The Government of Alberta has granted $150,000 in funding to Rocky View County (RVC) to help develop a joint Area Structure Plan (ASP) with the Town of Crossfield. According to Crossfield Mayor Nathan Anderson, the provincial grant is designed to support inter-municipal collaboration.
“It’s been a long time in the making,” he said. “Both RVC and Crossfield have been busy and focused on higher priority items, but this process was outlined as part of our annexation agreement (in 2009). So the time has come to lay that groundwork and provide a better understanding for the private sector as to what will be required from both municipalities, to develop within that corridor.”
The joint ASP will support the development of commercial, industrial and institutional land, including a business park, on a section of land located between the Town of Crossfield and Highway 2. According to a press release issued by the County, the first phase of the project is already completed.
“The Alberta Community Partnership Program grant will be matched by a $75,000 contribution from each of the two municipalities to complete phase two of the project,” the release stated.
“Our government is proud to provide funding that will help Rocky View County and Crossfield work together to better meet the needs of families in their area,” said Alberta Municipal Affairs Minister Danielle Larivee in the release. “I believe Albertans are best served when their leaders come together in the common interest of their communities, and this project is a great example of that.”
After technical studies are completed on transportation, servicing and stormwater drainage, the completed draft will be presented to both RVC and Crossfield councils for approval. The release stated the project is anticipated to be completed in late 2016 or early 2017.
“We need to focus on making sure we have a co-ordinated transportation plan, so that Alberta Transportation will be on board, as well as a water plan that RVC will need to work out,” Anderson said. “I would like to take the time to make sure that we are not wasting this grant money – that we are developing an effective document.”
While RVC declined to provide further comment, Reeve Greg Boehlke was quoted in the release, stating while people may hear more about the “occasional tensions” between RVC and its 13 neighboring municipalities, “more often than not,” he said, they work extremely well together.
“This is another example of our ‘good neighbour’ approach at work,” he said.
