Rocky View residents who want a say in the direction of growth in the county over the next 10 years are encouraged to complete an online survey.
Rocky View is seeking feedback on this stage of The County Plan, its highest-level planning document, before writing the draft document this spring.
Reeve Rolly Ashdown encourages people to get involved.
“It’s important that people get involved because there is no other way administration can (reflect what residents want when) making recommendations to council,” he said.
Richard Barss, senior planner at Rocky View agreed.
“(The County Plan) is direction for the next 10 years or so,” said Barss. “It is your county and community, so it is your opportunity to have your say and see where things are going.”
The County Plan, which will govern physical development of the land, has been in the works for more than six months and Barss said Rocky View has sought feedback at all stages.
Public engagement began in June, 2012 with a survey of priorities. Barss said the County received 1,200 responses to the survey.
The County then held workshops in September and October, during which representatives asked for more detailed responses, according to Barss. More than 400 people attended the fall workshops.
In November and early December, the County held seven workshops around the region with 150 participants.
Ashdown said he hopes residents from all corners of the county get involved in the final stages of the process.
“It would be nice,” he said, adding staff has heard mostly from west Rocky View residents, an area of the County where recent controversial decisions have been made.
“In some areas where controversial things are going on, there seems to be a lot of people interested, but where (residents are happy) with the status quo, people haven’t been as involved.”
The survey is available online at www.rockyview.ca and residents can take it until Jan. 10.
Barss said given the detail in the document, the survey may take between 30 minutes and an hour to complete. He added people can comment specifically on sections of interest or pause the survey if time is a factor.
“We are asking (residents) to comment on policy change,” said Barss, adding the County Plan will replace the current Municipal Development Plan, which hasn’t been updated since 1998.
Barss said the County Plan will also include information on community services such as agricultural services, family and community support services, library services and recreational services. It will also have sections that recognize the diversity of the community and differing perspectives of the area’s residents.
“We are going to include a chapter on regions, using it as a context to help guide growth,” said Barss.
The draft document will be discussed during the next public input sessions, which will likely take place in late February and early March, according to Barss.
Barss said he has been given a deadline of presenting the draft document to council by June 11.
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