MOUNTAIN VIEW COUNTY - A public hearing will be held next week to consider wide-ranging changes being proposed to the South McDougal Flats area structure plan (ASP).
Council gave first reading to the updated plan bylaw last month and set the public hearing date.
The ASP provides direction on the future use, subdivision and development within the plan area west of Sundre.
A steering committee has been overseeing the review process, with a total of 16 committee meetings and two public engagement sessions held to date.
Community engagement has included newspaper advertisements, pre-recorded presentations sessions, in-person open house sessions, an online open house and an online survey.
Changes to the proposed updated ASP have been made to reflect comments received as part of the engagement process, council heard.
Those key changes to the existing 2010 ASP Bylaw No. 02/10 (as outlined in a briefing note to council) are related to agriculture and low density areas, residential areas, recreational areas, industrial and highway commercial corridor areas, airport area, and nature resource policy.
Regarding the Sundre Airport area, the note states, “The existing airport lands and the adjacent lands to the north and east are unique and will require the development of a concept plan which will be developed after the ASP review concludes and is adopted.
“The Sundre Airport Concept Plan will define more detail policies to ensure the airport, and economic driver, is protected as has a compatible growth.”
Regarding the industry and highway commercial corridor area the note states, “These two areas have been combined and slightly expanded to now include the quarter section west of Rge. Rd. 60 and south of Highway 584, and expanded to the north of Highway 584 to allow for industrial/commercial development with an internal subdivision road.”
Regarding recreational areas, the note states, “These areas were reduced and concentrated along the Bearberry Creek and portions along the Red Deer River, where existing recreational development is taking place.
“Considering these lands are subject to flooding and for the most part identified as environmentally significant areas (ESA) proposals for recreation development may be acceptable if all the criterion for flood hazard and ESAs can be met.”
Regarding agricultural and low density areas, the note states, “The steering committee has determined that the subdivision potential should allow for agricultural and residential development, up to four titles per quarter section. This policy area increased from 17 to 23 quarter sections.”
Regarding residential areas, the note states, “Residential areas for high density and low density were combined and the total area reduced. Nine quarter sections in the plan area area identified within the residential policy area, of which five quarter sections contain existing subdivisions and have the potential for the remainders to further subdivide with the limitations that the minimum parcel size cannot be small that the smallest parcel within the quarter section.
“The remaining four quarter sections have the potential to develop with larger country residential lots with a minimum parcel size of five acres of up to 15 acres in size to accommodate on site servicing and provide a variety of residential parcels.”
The public hearing will be held at the county office on March 27 starting at or after 9 a.m.
