By Dan Singleton
MVP Staff
About 40 area residents attended the public open house for the Bergen area structure plan (ASP) review now being undertaken by Mountain View County.
The meeting at the Bergen Hall on June 9 saw steering committee members overseeing the ASP process explain some of the work done to date.
The plan is being updated to bring it into line with the county's overriding municipal development plan.
The updated Bergen ASP will be used by county councillors and administration when considering land use issues such as proposed new development in the district.
The plan area encompasses approximately 171 acres or 66 square miles south of Sundre. Once adopted by county council, the updated plan would replace the existing 2008 plan.
Stated land use and development objectives of the updated draft plan include to “conserve agricultural land and support agricultural development”, “provide a complementary approach to land use planning within the plan area”, and to “identify commercial and industrial activities that support the surrounding land uses.”
Guests at the June 9 meeting were asked to provide written comments to questions regarding several aspects of the updated plan. Those questions were as follows:
• In your opinion should new or expanded confined feeding operations be supported in the ASP?
• In your opinion are there areas (if any) that could have recreational vehicle campgrounds in the ASP? Do you think limited private camping (personal use) could take place on private land?
• In your opinion are there areas (if any) that could have a trail network in the ASP? If so, what type (pedestrian/bike, horse/quad)?
• Should more or less subdivision and development be allowed within the Bergen Centre (an area at the intersection of Highway 760 and Twp. Rd. 320)? If yes, what type (residential, commercial, recreational)?
• What do you think is an appropriate level of density for the Bergen Centre? More than three additional titled lots? 15-20 lots? Up to 48 lots?
• Is anything missing or not given enough attention in the draft ASP and what was presented tonight?
• We would appreciate any further comments or suggestions that you may have.
The questionnaires, which are also available online at the county office and on the county's website, must be returned to the county by July 14.
Reeve Bruce Beattie – who attended the June 9 meeting along with several other councillors and county staff members – says interested area residents are encouraged to provide input into the ASP process by filling out the questionnaire and/or attending the public hearing once a date for it is set.
“We want people to have input,” said Beattie. “There is still the opportunity to have input. They can always contact any member of the committee as well. There is lots of opportunity to have input.”
During the meeting, Beattie was asked whether the county is under pressure to change the existing Bergen ASP.
“There is lots of interest in subdivisions in the county,” he said. “I don't know that we are under pressure to change this specific plan, but I think it is a question of pressure due to development and requests for subdivisions.
“Every week we have applications for subdivisions (across the county). It's an ongoing thing and if we don't have some rules and guidelines, then we will have the kind of development that happens where planning wasn't in place when development took place.”
Bergen resident Sally Banks called on the steering committee to ensure that term definitions in the updated ASP match those in the municipal development plan.
Steering committee member Patrick Cummins told guests there are opportunities for further input into the plan, as well as chances to comment on any proposed area developments that may come before council in future.
After July 14, the steering committee will review the questionnaire responses and comment before deciding whether further public consultations are needed or whether the updated draft plan could be presented to council for possible first reading.
The Bergen ASP is one of several such plans now being updated in the county, including the Highway 2-27 ASP.
