SUNDRE – Although the recently updated municipal development plan was built largely on the existing foundation of the document that was last revised in 2013, the modernized playbook for Sundre's growth has been refocused and expanded.
Benazir Thaha Valencia, the municipality’s director of community development, provided the Albertan with a detailed comparison breaking down what changes were factored into the high-level planning document that offers guidelines on future developments as projects ranging from residential subdivisions to commercial ventures or even public facilities and parks as well as trail networks arise.
When last adopted in the 2013, the MDP was based on a two per cent annual growth rate that projected a population of approximately 4,000 by 2032. By comparison, the 2024 document not only accounts for an estimate that Sundre’s population will reach roughly 4,065 by 2050 but also integrates seasonal tourism into its projects.
With regards to planning horizon and vision, the last version placed an emphasis on “the preservation of the small-town character while accommodating growth pressures” with a focus on the next 20 years of growth up to 2035.
By contrast, the 2024 MDP “highlights Sundre as a thriving community with a stronger focus on tourism, environmental stewardship, and economic diversification,” she said, adding the document also “extends to a 25-year vision reaching 2050, with goals to foster innovation, sustainability, and inclusivity.”
Both versions of the document also seek to encourage a mix of housing types with a focus on higher-density for affordable housing. But the modernized version goes a step farther by adding “more detail on housing for seniors, intergenerational living, and eco-friendly designs and promoting innovative housing forms like secondary suites,” she said.
Similarly, the two plans also factored in a focus on traditional commercial growth with an emphasis on highway commercial developments to serve travelers and residents. However, the new plan goes above and beyond that objective to also encourage neighbourhood commercial sites and mixed-use developments while aligning commercial growth with Sundre’s tourism strategy, she said.
“There’s also more focus on design aesthetics and pedestrian safety,” she added.
Regarding industrial development, both plans sought to encourage retention as well as expansion of existing sectors. Once again, the updated plan expands on that objective while also stressing the need to consider environmental impacts and buffer zones between industrial and non-industrial uses, she said.
The two versions also include a category for community wellness with a stated focus on general community services such as health care, education, and emergency services to maintain residents’ quality of life. The 2024 plan again goes a little further by placing a greater focus on wellness programs including intergenerational connections, inclusivity, mental health support, as well as promoting active lifestyles, she said.
“It also emphasizes emergency preparedness and protective services as part of community wellness,” she added.
Environmental stewardship is another category that was expanded upon. The originally included general strategies to manage growth without straining resources were revised to focus more on environmental management, water conservation, and floodplain protections along with detailed infrastructure planning.
Recognizing the critical importance of infrastructure, there was already an existing focus on transportation, utilities as well as ensuring that developments can be supported within the limits of existing infrastructure. The modernized document now dives into greater detail by incorporating a 10-year capital plan, focusing on trail connectivity, regional recreation facilities, and sustainable infrastructure like water-smart practices.
“It also highlights the need for more comprehensive servicing and utilities planning to support projected growth,” she said.
As for the category of governance, the 2024 plan maintains the existing emphasis on fiscal responsibility and decision-making transparency as well as inter-municipal cooperation, but again goes farther by expanding on public engagement strategies and adding detailed focus on community participation through transparent communication channels, she said.
“It introduces risk management and financial accountability practices to ensure sustainability in governance,” she added.
Other changes include the land use concept map, with the updated plan showing less commercial and more residential land use, she said, adding there are also now more informative maps outlined within the MDP including one for parks and trails.
“As Sundre’s many beautiful trails are a very important part of the Sundre lifestyle, it is important to highlight them and include them in part of the development planning process,” she said.
And while the last MDP featured a brief section summarizing how the community had been consulted throughout the drafting process, the 2024 plan now includes a much more detailed recap of the public consultations that took place in an appendix report.
As well, in a bid to minimize the cost of preparing the plans, an extensive and time-consuming process, they were both produced in-house rather than contracting out the service, she said.
