Calgary shelves annexation of Foothills County land

CALGARY - The City of Calgary is not moving forward with an annexation of land from Foothills County. 

Calgary council recently accepted a recommendation from administration to withdraw from the annexation process for about 415 acres just south of Spruce Meadows, the City said in a press release. 

The decision comes following public consultation and a technical review of the proposed annexation area. 

The release also said there is enough land within Calgary’s borders for the next 35 to 49 years, and that it is sufficient based on current growth rates. 

“We have decided that now is not the appropriate time to proceed with the annexation,” said Evan Spencer, annexation negotiation committee (ANC) co-chair and Calgary councillor. 

The City will continue to monitor its land supply and will consider the need to pursue a more comprehensive annexation in the future, Spencer said. 

“We look forward to continuing to build a strong relationship with our neighbours in Foothills County,” he said. 

Foothills County councillor and ANC co-chair Don Waldorf said the County supports the decision not to proceed with annexation at this time. 

“We value our strong relationship with Calgary, and at such time as the City decides that they would like to undertake a more comprehensive annexation, we will be prepared to come to the table once again, ready to negotiate the terms of an annexation agreement,” Waldorf said. 

The annexation process was initiated by the City in May 2022 for the land on the west side of its southern border with Foothills County. 

Public engagement for the proposal included an open house and an online survey.

The land is part of the Calgary Growth Area that was identified in a 2017 Intermunicipal Development Plan between Foothills County and the City of Calgary.