CARSTAIRS/MOUNTAIN VIEW COUNTY — Both Town of Carstairs and Mountain View County (MVC) councils are expected to vote this week on whether to approve a new intermunicipal development plan (IDP) between the municipalities.
The councils held a joint public hearing on Feb. 10 to consider the plan, with each council approving second reading following the half hour hearing.
The new IDP is an update on the 2007 plan between the municipalities. The document sets out policies and procedures used by the town and county to coordinate planning matters such as future land uses, changes in municipal boundaries, environmental matters, transportation, and infrastructure planning.
It also includes provisions regarding dialogue, decision making and dispute resolution.
Work on the new plan began in 2019 and involved staff from both municipalities as well as assistance from Urban Systems under the intermunicipal collaboration committee.
The work included an online open house on Oct. 26, 2020, with MVC council giving the plan first reading on Jan. 13 and Carstairs council giving it first reading on Jan. 11.
Key changes from the 2007 plan include the following:
• The area included in the IDP, and subject to its policies, has been updated. It excludes lands in Carstairs and includes only those lands in MVC necessary to coordinate land use, infrastructure and future urban expansion.
• The intermunicipal planning commission and the intermunicipal subdivision and development appeal board for the IDP area has been eliminated in favour of focused discussion on planning policy decisions and land use law amendment decisions.
• Specific long-term land use are not assigned in the IDP and are to be determined through MVC’s municipal development plan.
• More direction has been added to assist in evaluation of future annexations.
• Consideration of the appearance along entrance corridors in the IDP area by both municipalities has been added.
• Use of municipal water and/or wastewater services for development of lands in MVC is no longer mandatory and the option to extend these services remains.
Gwen Day, who owns Silver Willow Sporting Club west of Carstairs, spoke during the Feb. 10 hearing. The facility includes a shooting range.
She expressed concerns regarding the possibility of the Carstairs boundary pushing further west, which would put it right up against the Silver Willow property.
“We understand that annexation is important, but we just wanted to make it noted that we have a concern with that,” said Day.
She called for caveats to be put on properties in the future growth area to acknowledge that sound (from the facility) would be impacting that area.
“That would give us some assurance if the need arises that they have to come further west towards us. I would ask that that would be a consideration, that there would be a note on each property,” said Day.
Regarding referral area policies, the updated IDP states: “Changes in land use designation, subdivision, and development in proximity to the shooting facility (Silver Willow) should consider offsite impacts.”
Following Day’s comments, MVC director planning Margaretha Bloem said, “Just to confirm with councils, that their (Day’s) property is currently within the IDP referral area and on the west of town where they are located there is no change to the areas covered by the fringe and the referral area.”
Carstairs CAO Carl McDonnell said, “The caveat for noise, we wouldn’t be able to put anything on unless the lands were within the town boundaries. If we ever annexed that far, it would be something we would consider in the annexation. Right now, it would be up to the county to put that caveat on. We wouldn’t be able to outside of our jurisdiction.”
Carstairs council is scheduled to consider third reading on Feb. 22, and MVC council is scheduled to consider third reading two days later.
The complete IDP is available for viewing on the county’s website.
