There were over 20 people in attendance at the Carstairs Community Centre on Sept. 8 for an open house to gather input on Mountain View County's proposed Wessex Area Structure Plan (ASP).
The ASP area includes the outskirts of Carstairs beyond the QEII Highway to the east, and two miles to the west, stretching about a half-mile north and south of the town.
The plan is intended to eventually set out policies around what type and amount of new commercial and residential development would be allowed in the area and where, desired economic development such as industrial or parks and recreation, as well as what sort of new community recreation opportunities would be accommodated.
Planning is just in its infancy currently, and Mountain View County Div. 1 Coun. Jeremy Sayer, who sits on the Wessex ASP steering committee, said everything is “wide open,” in his opinion.
“We're looking for public input at this point to see what people want developed, and what people want to be allowed to be developed within the structure plan,” said Sayer.
“I'm not going to say we've made any pre-judgments. I mean, there are some ideas definitely around the table, but I think that what we're looking for is public appetite to see what's going to happen as far as development goes and what people want.”
There will be a number of surveys going out to county residents included in the ASP boundary area, with county officials seeking opinions before laying down any plans regarding development in the area.
Sayer will be handing out surveys to residents in the area, and is hoping to get between 100 and 150 surveys back, which will allow the steering committee to get a good idea as to what residents want. The county and Town of Carstairs will also have copies in their offices for residents to fill out.
“Ultimately it depends on what the public's appetite is and what the ratepayers' appetite is. We don't want to do something that isn't what the ratepayers want. That would be anti-productive…because really when it comes down to it, it's ratepayers who should be making the decision, not necessarily a steering committee or council.”
If the committee and council listen and do what ratepayers want, he said whatever plans follow will likely be well balanced.
“We want to see smart and sustainable development happen in the county. What that means is the right development in the right place. So something like the Wessex (ASP) is an opportunity to see that happen.”
Mountain View County planner Tracey Connatty, who has taken on a technical support role on the steering committee, explained that ASP planning originally started in 2010.
There was an election around that time with the new council deciding to review and revise the Municipal Development Plan (MDP), so the ASP was delayed until that process could be completed – which it was in 2012.
“We needed to get some new steering committee members because in that time council changed again. We needed two new members, also a new member at large,” said Connatty.
Because it's a brand-new ASP, there are no policies in place, which is one of the reasons that the county held the open house.
Officials are looking to gather opinions on residential property density, commercial and industrial development, and any other issues that residents may be concerned about.
“(We're) just basically asking: you live here. How would you like to see it grow to continue as a vibrant community?
“Because it's in an infancy stage of being developed, it's hard for people to get their heads wrapped around what they want to ask about…hopefully from that (survey) we'll start seeing some more questions and discussions.”
In the MDP, the area has been listed as a potential economic corridor, along with others in the county, she noted.
“We're looking forward to getting that input from the community…it's their community. So help us plan the future for your community is essentially what we're trying to do.”
