MOUNTAIN VIEW COUNTY - More than a dozen people attended an open house at the county office on Jan. 16 to hear about proposed changes to the Olds-Didsbury Airport area structure plan (ASP).
Written public feedback on the proposed updated plan will be received until Feb. 6.
The Mountain View County (MVC)-owned airport is located between Olds and Didsbury just west of Highway 2A and east of the Bergen Road. The facility has two runways and a taxiway, as well as aircraft hangars and airport buildings.
The ASP is a document that provides a land use planning framework to guide future redesignation, subdivision, and development within the airport area.
“The intent of the updated ASP is to ensure the safety of airport operations, the safety of aircraft manoeuvring around the airport and support the potential for the airport to expand in the future,” county officials said.
“The proposed ASP boundaries include the updated height restrictions and noise exposure that already applies through the land use bylaw.”
As part of the 2023 budget, council approved the review for a total cost of $30,000.
Key topics of the review include changes in land uses and development since the adoption of the original ASP to identify appropriate future land uses, subdivision potential and densities, and ensuring aerodrome standards have been met and are protected for the future development of the airport.
It also involves a review of the current runway configuration and potential future options for its expansion and options and limitations for servicing future development within the airport.
Key proposed changes to the land use concept map and policies include updated maps for height restrictions and noise export, plan boundary expansion and proposed policy for possible future development of the airport.
The ASP update is being overseen by a steering committee which includes members of the public and county officials, including Division 3 Coun. Alan Miller, who is also a member of the aviation advisory committee.
“The proposed (updated) plan seeks to maintain to the greatest extent possible the ability to redesignate, subdivide and develop, with some limitations for development within specific requirements,” said Miller.
“The policies proposed are intended to guide future land use with the next 10 to 15 years.”
The five-step ASP review process began in early 2023, with Stage 1 considering key topics, and Stage 2 the preparation of the draft plan.
“We are currently at Stage 3 and are seeking public feedback,” said Réanne Pohl, planning technician with MVC.
New to the policy would be the designation of a so-called ‘outer surface area’ established for the protection of aircraft conducting a circling procedure or manoeuvring in the vicinity of the aerodrome that expends 4,000 metres from the aerodrome reference point (centre of facility) and 45 metres vertically.
There are 31 quarter sections that are proposed to be included within the updated plan boundaries.
“This particular configuration was selected as it limits the number of quarter sections to only those that would be included with the height limitation and the noise exposure forecast areas,” said Miller.
The updated ASP lists a number of considerations that new applications within the aerodrome protection zone would be evaluated against, including the potential for smoke, dust or steam that could impact visibility near the airport, involve the potential for fire or an explosive hazards, or uses that require extensive lighting.
“Essentially new development or land use changes must demonstrate their compatibility with the safe operations of the airport and provide specific considerations,” said Margaretha Bloem, director of planning and development with MVC.
The complete proposed updated ASP is available for viewing on the county’s website.
Council will be responsible for possible final approval of the plan bylaw after a public hearing.
