Following the recent release of an area resident survey, the steering committee overseeing the development of the Mountain View County area structure plan (ASP) for the Wessex area around Carstairs has reviewed a first draft of plan policies.
The committee held its latest meeting on Nov. 25, with administration outlining some of the proposals for the plan.
Once completed, the Wessex ASP will be a guideline for county council in areas such as future business, industrial and residential development.
It will also provide information to potential developers regarding the “amount and type of development that may be considered appropriate within the plan, provide landowners with information on the amount and type of development.”
The draft plan reviewed last week outlines a number of policies, including the following:
• The low density residential designation is intended to accommodate development of up to three titled lots, retaining the balance of the quarter as the fourth title in accordance with policies of the municipal development plan (MDP, which covers the entire county).
• While single family detached housing is expected to be the standard form of housing in the plan area, this ASP supports the development of alternative forms of housing (ie: duplexes, townhomes, mobile home, etc.), if the application demonstrates compatibility, rationale for the housing style, and if supported by the approving authority, a comprehensive landscape and buffering plan my be required.
• Higher density multi-lot subdivision applications shall require a concept plan when required by the MDP and shall be prepared in accordance with the MDP, to support re-designation and subdivision applications in the residential areas.
• There shall be buffering or transition between residential and other uses; the type and degree of this transitional buffering will be dependent upon the adjacent uses that have been developed or planned.
Regarding business park development in the ASP area, the plan states that the “intersection of Highways 2 and 581 is the focus of this ASP for business park development. It is an area that is experiencing development pressures. Use for this area includes a range of business uses – both commercial and light industrial consistent with the business park district of the land use bylaw.”
Under the plan, developers must prepare concept plans for proposed developments, including “lot configurations, internal road systems, municipal reserve and open space lands, infrastructure requirements, water consumption, multi-use pathway development and pedestrian accessibility, parcel sizes and permitted uses, and landscape design.”
Stormwater management plans shall be required for “all future multi-lot subdivisions and may be required for development applications. The plan shall demonstrate that surface drainage is controlled and does not impact any existing development on site and adjacent lands.”
A community survey was conducted between August and October to gather some public comments about the proposed plan. The results are being used as part of the planning process.
The survey asked recipients to rate their support of residential development density, residential types, economic development, and community and recreation.
The survey found that there is community support for future low impact commercial development in the ASP area.
County planner Tracey Connatty presented the survey results to the steering committee at its Oct. 28 meeting.
“Upon review of the tabulated answers the community is generally supportive of low impact development with support for local community future development,” said Connatty.
“The community has identified a higher level of support for single family dwellings within this area. In relation to community and recreation development the community seeks to have a desire for development of day use parks and multi-use trail system within the plan area.”
