Town begins land use discussions regarding WestCreek development project

By John Watson Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Conversations are ongoing through the Town of Strathmore, as bylaws relating to the WestCreek area structure plan have been given their first readings.

Bylaw 25-17 is a bylaw to amend the WestCreek Area Structure Plan Bylaw 08-22. Council had amended Bylaw 08-22 before, as second and third readings for Bylaw 25-07, also being an amending bylaw for 08-22 were passed during the May 7 regular meeting. 

According to administration, it was discovered following the passing of the bylaw amendment there was an error in Bylaw 25-07 regarding one of the maps of the future land use concept, as it had mistakenly been omitted from the bylaw. 

The intent of the new bylaw was to now include the previously omitted map, without changing any previous uses or intents from the previous bylaw amendment. 

Discussion and advertisement of the land use bylaw amendment follows procedures outlined in the Municipal Government Act, which requires public notice, and hosting a public hearing prior to second and third readings. 

“The WestCreek Area Structure Plan is the higher-level plan. Some of those amendments were adopted by council previously. The next step of the process is where the districts for the land use file are applied to a phase, being Phase 1 of the WestCreek Area Structure Plan amendment,” said Jamie Dugdale, director of infrastructure, operations, and development services.

Additionally, the Town of Strathmore passed first reading of Land Use Amending Bylaw 25-08, being a bylaw to amend Land Use Bylaw 14-11. 

The application to amend Land Use Bylaw 14-11 was received by the town, March 14, and was deemed a complete application, April 7. The redesignation being sought pertains only to lands described as forming Phase 1 of the WestCreek Area Structure Plan. 

This current application to amend the land use bylaw is to facilitate the eventual subdivision of the lands within the Phase 1 area structure plan and the creation of 96 urban residential lots along with three blocks intended to be used for emergency services, stormwater, and open space purposes.

Administration noted detailed information about phase one such as acreage, emergency services, and stormwater details will be available in advance, and presented at the public hearing, as required by the Municipal Government Act. 

A public hearing regarding the bylaw amendment has been directed to be scheduled for June 18, being the same date as the area structure plan amendment public hearing.

Mayor Pat Fule presented a notice of motion concerning the transfer of specific lands relating to the WestCreek development. As this was a notice for future consideration, no debate or voting occurred on the subject during the meeting. 

The proposed motion directs the CAO, Kevin Scoble, to complete an agreement for the transfer of WestCreek lands south of Gray Park to the Town of Strathmore at an approximate and mutually agreed upon time during the development and approval phases.