The steering committee overseeing the preparation of the new Mountain View County Southeast Sundre area structure plan (ASP) has reviewed the results of a take-away survey handed out during a March open house.
During the recent regularly scheduled meeting at the county office, the committee looked over the 17 surveys returned.
The new ASP outlines development guidelines and conditions for eight sections of land immediately southeast of the Town of Sundre.
Once adopted, the plan will replace the existing 2007 ASP, which contains a number of inconsistencies with the new countywide municipal development plan (MDP), which was adopted in July 2012. The Sundre plan must conform to the MDP.
The plan outlines 10 main objectives, including “to develop a plan that will guide future development”, “to provide for future land use that is sensitive to agriculture and rural surroundings and environment” and to “encourage recreational development that recognizes natural physical features in collaboration with the Town of Sundre Recreation Plan.”
The ASP area contains a number of existing businesses, including two bed and breakfast operations, two campgrounds, a gravel pit and several other businesses.
One question in the survey asked: “There is a 300 metre setback or buffer for natural resource extraction sites (proposed in ASP). Do you feel this is adequate?” Of 17 respondents to the question, nine said the distance is adequate, five said it should be 400-500 metres, and three said it should be 800 metres.
Another question asked, “In parts of the ASP we are proposing up to 48 country residential lots, three acres or larger. Do you agree with this?” Fourteen said yes, two said they wanted larger (10-20) acre lots, and one said it would take residential development away from the town.
In a letter to the committee, Erin O'Neill, manager of planning and development with the Town of Sundre, said, in part: “Section 5.1.8 (of the plan) stated that the northwest portion of the plan area that is immediately adjacent to the Town of Sundre has the potential for residential infill development. The future land use concept map in the IDP (inter-municipal development plan) designates this area as industrial as opposed to residential.
“Further discussion should occur on this area to determine if it should be residential or industrial. Given that the town is currently updating its municipal development plan that adjustment can be made if the committee and the town see fit.”
Bob Nerrie, the chairman of the multi-stakeholder steering committee, has said committee members are committed to seeing a final plan that reflects area resident input.
“As a committee we don't want to sit back and make decisions on our own,” said Nerrie, a Sundre-area resident. “We are not going to take this ASP to council until we are absolutely convinced that everybody has been listened to.”
Reeve Bruce Beattie said, “We recognize in that area in particular there is a lot of concern about resource extraction, and specifically gravel and how that might impact future development and how future development might impact the extraction of that gravel.
“Other issues include the drainage issues and water issues. Those are also significant in terms of what the committee is trying to deal with when trying to write this ASP.
“We want to rely on the people who are living in that area to set the tone and the standards of the ASP.”
Beattie says he would like to see the Sundre ASP in place before the Oct. municipal election.
The Sundre ASP is one of several such plans being developed in Mountain View County.
"We recognize in that area in particular there is a lot of concern about resource extraction."Bruce Beattie, MVC Reeve
