After months of consideration, Rocky View County council released a report in response to the Reeveís Task Force Report on Growth Planning, April 18.
The document outlines councilís responses to each recommendation of the Reeveís Task Force, a 17-member committee that was given a mandate to help define the direction of growth in the county in July 2010.
The committee, which included representatives from each division in Rocky View, gathered feedback from hundreds of county residents at four open houses. In January 2011, the Reeveís Task Force delivered its final report to council.
ìThe Reeveís Task Force initiative demonstrated the wants of our residents, giving us tremendous and invaluable feedback about planning our growth for the future and shaping the county,î said Reeve Rolly Ashdown.
In the fall of 2011, council began reviewing and responding to the observations and recommendations of the Reeveís Task Force. Residentsí responses showed a desire for growth to be sustainable and well-managed, while maintaining Rocky Viewís rural identity, culture and character.
Various topics are addressed in the document, including residential, commercial and industrial development, water, agriculture, debt and the Calgary Regional Partnership.
One of the Task Force recommendations was that the owner of a quarter section of land be allowed to subdivide it into a maximum of four parcels. In its response, council said the proposal merits further exploration during the rewrite of the Municipal Development Plan.
Another recommendation was that developers fund all necessary infrastructure and that commercial and industrial development should be allowed only on a net cost-benefit to the County.
In its response, council agreed and said it is reviewing the Growth Management Strategy. Council also stated staff will develop a financial-impact model to help provide analysis on future developments.
The Task Force recommended a comprehensive Water Management Strategy that encourages conservation be developed. Council said staff is working on a water servicing strategy that will address the need for establishing a long-term supply of water, which will be presented later this year.
Councilís most recent report also stated ìcouncil is committed to steadily decreasing municipal debt and increasing the non-residential contribution to our tax base.î The document stated council will keep pushing the provincial government to allow municipalities to impose fees on developers for soft infrastructure like libraries, firehalls and recreation centres.
ìCouncil has embraced the Task Force report as a meaningful guiding document and we are committed to undertaking many of the reportís recommendations,î said Ashdown. ìThe process of the Reeveís Task Force and councilís response shows the level of investment our residents have in preserving and enhancing quality of life, while securing future prosperity.î
The final response to the Task Force recommendations and observations is available at www.rockyview.ca. A hard copy is available from the County Administration Building at 911 32 Avenue NE, in Calgary.
