MOUNTAIN VIEW COUNTY – The months-long review of the Mountain View County municipal development plan (MDP) is nearing completion, with a virtual telephone open house on Aug. 26 giving residents one of the final chances to pose questions and provide input.
The MDP governs development across the county, which includes more than 1,800 farms and ranches. County council approved $85,000 for the review in the 2019 budget.
The MDP review has involved the gathering of stakeholder input on how agriculture, businesses and the environment in the county can be supported.
The Mountain View County agricultural service board and the municipal planning commission both received updates on the proposed changes last week.
Reeve Bruce Beattie says people taking part in the open house will have an opportunity to pose questions to staff and to provide input.
“People who call in will be connected to one of our staff who will take the question and direct it,” said Beattie. “Yes people will be able to ask questions and if we have more questions than we can deal with during the call, then those will be followed up after the call. We will keep track of all the questions.”
Caller can also provide input, which will be recorded and given to the steering committee, he said.
“This will provide another way for people to have input,” he said.
The current plan was adopted in July 2012 and the review has included input from the agriculture service board, the municipal planning commission, the subdivision and development appeal board, as well as several open houses and surveys.
The plan includes agriculture land use policies, residential land use policies, economic development land use polices, environmental land use policies, growth centres, natural resource, transportation, servicing and utilities, reserve lands, development phasing, intermunicipal issues, planning implementation and monitoring.
Regarding growth centre policies, the proposed updated MDP reads, in part, that the “county identifies two growth centres as area more suitable for future development including higher density residential, commercial and industrial uses.
“The growth centres include the area southeast of the Town of Sundre and the Water Valley-Winchell Lake area. These area have existing area structure plans that support the potential growth of non-agricultural uses.”
Regarding economic nodes, the proposed updated plan reads, in part, that the county has “identified the Olds-Didsbury Airport, and Sundre Airport as additional economic development locations given existing development within the areas.”
Under agriculture land use policies, the proposed updated plan reads, in part, that “a panhandle subdivision may be considered for the purpose of providing access to an existing agricultural parcel that is either landlocked or does not have access from a developed county road allowance.
“The maximum area of the portion of land to form the panhandle should not exceed five acres in size, and shall be consolidated with the title of the existing parcel that requires access.”
Under residential land use policies, the proposed updated plan reads, in part, “consultation with adjacent landowners shall precede any application to the county when more than one lot is proposed. Written confirmation from the neighbours and/or affected community shall be provided to the county.”
Regarding growth centres and economic nodes, the proposed updated plan states, in part, that, “The intended future land use concept for the special policy area is business park uses, and where appropriate, residential subdivisions.”
The updated plan would have to be approved by county motion.
The complete proposed updated plan, including updated maps, is available for viewing at mountainviewcounty.com.
Instructions to take part in the Aug. 26 telephone open house, which runs from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m., can also be found on the county’s website. Pre-registration is encouraged, says director of planning Margaretha Bloom.
The deadline for written comments for the review will be Sept. 23, she said.
“In terms of the process to conclude the MDP review, council will consider open house comments and receive the written feedback, then direct next steps that may include additional amendments, more engagement, and the final step to schedule a public hearing that is required before the MDP can be approved by bylaw," she said.
