Rocky View County council tabled a set of servicing standards with council requesting time to review the new guidelines, March 5.
Rick Michalenko, the County’s senior municipal planner, presented a report on the new servicing standards. He also passed on a request from the Urban Developments Institute (UDI), one of the parties involved in the review, asking for more time to read and provide input on the 300-page document.
The current servicing standards guide was developed in 1997 and hasn’t been revised since 2003, according to the staff report.
The standards are out of date and no longer reflect County-development standards, the report explains.
The document includes information on drawing requirements, clarity with regards to geotechnical testing requirements, formal inclusion of traffic impact assessments, wastewater, water and stormwater requirements and servicing standards for low-impact development.
Michalenko said the County has been working on the new guide for the last three years and said in the future it will be reviewed annually.
Councillor Al Sacuta suggested putting the report online with a link for people wanting to provide feedback.
“Then I don’t see an impediment to adopting this today,” he said.
Councillor Lois Habberfield disagreed.
“We have a liaison committee,” she said. “Why have one if this (servicing standards guide) hasn’t been on the committee agenda?”
She said the County has been criticized for not having meaningful consultation and taking the time to have the report reviewed and discussed during a committee meeting would be the best way to go.
Michalenko included a summary and a presentation of the guidelines, as the full 300-page document wasn’t deemed too long to provide in the council agenda.
Councillor Earl Solberg said that council received a copy of it 18 months ago during discussions.
Councillor Liz Breakey said she wasn’t on council at that time and would appreciate some time to look it over.
Habberfield made a motion to table the vote until April 30 so it could go to the Rocky View and UDI committee meeting.
Sacuta said he felt the UDI has given “us feedback up the ying-yang” but said he would approve the tabling to allow councillors time to review the draft.
Bahcheli agreed.
“I would like the opportunity to read (the draft) before approving,” she said.
Bahcheli asked if Michalenko could provide a draft clearly showing the major revisions to the document.
Michalenko said the new document is entirely different so it wouldn’t be possible to highlight all of the differences.
The draft is expected to be available soon on the County website at www.rockyview.ca
