MOUNTAIN VIEW COUNTY - County council has passed a resolution related to the intermunicipal development plan (IDP) approved by the county and the Town of Olds in November.
The move was made by way of motion at the recent regularly scheduled council meeting and was needed to officially accept the related annexation negotiation report that must be sent to the provincial Municipal Government Board (MGB).
The IDP outlines the proposed annexation of three quarter sections of land in the county covering 198 hectares of titled lands and non-titled road allowances and rights of way.
Lands involved include NW 4-33-1-W5, NE 4-33-1-W5, and SE 4-33-1-W5, all northeast of the current Town of Olds boundary.
The negotiation report summarizes the process that the town and county followed in considering annexation and acts as the town’s official application to the board.
Required contents of the report includes a description of the lands to be annexed, a list of all matters agreed upon and those on which no agreement between the municipalities was reached, a description of the public consultation process, and a summary of the views expressed during the public consultation.
The report also includes an indication to the board on how the town wishes to proceed with respect to the timing of the annexation and the conditions the town and county place on the town’s annexation application.
A financial analysis of the proposed annexation is also included.
The resolution passed on March 10 states, in part, that the county “agrees with the annexation of the lands described in this report to the items agreed to as set out in the annexation negotiation report.”
Reeve Bruce Beattie said the negotiations resulting in the adoption of the IDP by both municipalities went well.
“I think it was a good process,” said Beattie. “It’s a fair outcome of our discussions. It’s another area where we have successfully operated with our local municipality. We were able to do it without any significant legal issues.”
The Town of Olds council is scheduled to consider a similar resolution to accept the annexation negotiation report on March 22, council heard.
Once the MGB receives the town’s application, board members will decided whether a public hearing is required.
“There is no time limit for the MGB to reach its decision on the town’s application,” said Margaretha Bloem, director of planning. “The final decision on annexation comes from provincial cabinet in the form of an Order-in-Council.
“It is estimated that it may take six months to receive a formal decision from the province.”
