County approves terms of reference

Mountain View County councillors have passed a motion approving the terms of reference for the development of an inter-municipal development plan (IDP) with the Village of Cremona.

The move came during the recent regularly scheduled council meeting.

Municipalities are required under the updated Municipal Government Act (MGA) to create IDPs with other municipalities with common boundaries.

The plans do a number of things, including addressing future land use within the plan area, setting out the manner of the proposals for future development in the area, providing for the provision of transportation systems, and coordinating inter-municipal programs related to the physical, social and economic development of the area.

“Mountain View County and the Village of Cremona hold an existing IDP which is in need of review,” administration said in a briefing note to council. “As such, a terms of reference document has been developed to guide the parties through a discussion and eventual development of a revised IDP.”

According to the terms of reference, project objectives include the following:

• Review and adjust the IDP goals to align with the joint vision and objectives for the plan area.
• Confirm and identify development constraints (natural and infrastructure) to inform future land use and policies.
• Review and amend plan areas and policies.
• Support higher density residential development within the Village of Cremona and reduce competing development interest.
• Engage the public to receive input on the revision.

Infrastructure planning objectives include the following:

• Identify major transportation corridors and important road networks.
• Review existing infrastructure capacity within the Village of Cremona and requirements to expand infrastructure for future land use and development.
• Confirm through the IDP review process if any annexation is required by the Village of Cremona.
• Identify existing and future utility corridors where appropriate.
• Examine development phasing as it relates to infrastructure requirements.

Sustainability objectives of the plan include the following:

• Develop clear land use policies and guidelines for existing and future development within the plan area.
• Review environmental protection and preservation measures.
• Consider areas or circumstances where extension of infrastructure of water storage facilities, waste water treatment facilities, pipelines, or regional stormwater management may serve new development on the assumption that the developer pays for development.

Council also appointed members to the Cremona inter-municipal collaboration committee as the steering committee that will oversee the development of the plan.