After an eight-month-long process, the Town of Sundre's Municipal Development Plan (MDP) has been adopted.
Council passed second and third readings during the council meeting on Sept. 16 after no comments were received from the public during the hearing at the meeting.
After first reading was passed during the council meeting on Aug. 19, the plan was presented at the welcome back barbecue on Sept. 5 at River Valley School. Erin O'Neill, the town's manager of planning and development, said only positive feedback was received.
However, during the Sept. 16 meeting, Coun. Pat Toone questioned land use designation in the plan and O'Neill explained that the MDP doesn't actually change zoning, but is to be used as a guiding principle and that changes would come forward to council. She also mentioned that the town's Land Use Bylaw is to be updated next year, which is a priority.
The MDP is a 20-year plan that includes new policies and direction for future development and transportation systems. One of the biggest changes outlined in the plan, which was circulated to Sundre residents in May, is for a second primary highway river crossing to be built over the Red Deer River. However, Alberta Transportation officials have indicated that they have no interest in a second river crossing in or near Sundre.
“The department (of Alberta Transportation) will upgrade the existing bridge on Highway 27 when traffic volumes or the need to replace dictate,” reads the plan.
“Notwithstanding this, the town will endeavour to identify the location of a second river crossing over the Red Deer River to allow for more comprehensive long-range planning.”
Town officials also plan to explore the possibility of a new hospital in town. The draft MDP stated that the hospital would be developed outside of the flood plain area on the east side of town. However, after engaging in several discussions with the public, the updated plan states that two options would be made available, including the east side as well as a site in the north quarter section of town.
“Should Alberta Health Services choose either of these locations, the MDP will already support this development. However, should a developer wish to construct a different type of development in those areas, they would be required to complete an MDP amendment,” said O'Neill, in a report to council.
Another change outlined in the MDP is that the town require a specific mix of housing types in all new residential areas and avoid excessive concentration of single type housing.
“Duplex and multi-family residential units shall make up at least 25 per cent of the total housing units in a new residential area,” reads the MDP.
It also discusses development land use guidelines that reflect the areas along the corridor, including the east side, the central area and the west side.
The east side would be mixed use with commercial development, retaining the agricultural service industries.
The central area would be mixed use including commercial, residential and civic uses, allowing a mix of uses within commercial buildings and contributing to a pedestrian friendly environment.
The west side would be highway commercial and industrial uses that make more efficient uses of land.
“There should be continued efforts by the community and town to ‘green up' the town, specifically the commercial and industrial areas,” states the plan.
It also says that town officials will work collaboratively with Mountain View County to investigate the development of trails from Sundre into the county on the east, adjacent to Highway 27 and west to Highway 584 to Sundre Forest Products.
Town officials also plan to work with the Sundre Rodeo and Race Association to discuss the optimal use of the rodeo grounds.
“If relocation of the grounds is contemplated, the rodeo site may have potential for institutional or recreational development,” reads the plan.
The co-location of police, fire, ambulance and disaster services in a location that provides the best response time to reach future growth areas in town is also encouraged in the plan.
Town officials are expecting an annual population growth of two per cent over the next 20 years, which would see the town surpass 4,000 by 2035.
The MDP was last updated in 2001. The rewritten version was launched in January and there were a few occasions for members of the public to provide input before it was adopted.
