After more than a year of public engagement, stakeholder consultation and technical work, a draft Glenbow Ranch Area Structure Plan (GBRASP) was presented at an open house at RockPointe Church in Bearspaw July 25.
“Some people are in favour of it, some people have specific concerns that we hope we have addressed, and then there are some residents who just aren’t in favour of that level of growth,” said RVC Senior Planner Richard Barss.
“That’s been the consistent response.”
The plan covers an area that extends almost to the County’s border with the City of Calgary, and includes a section currently part of the Bearspaw plan. To ensure development occurs in identified growth areas with plenty of space for conservation around the Glenbow Ranch Provincial Park, the County will introduce transferable development credits. According to Barss, this has caused a bit of uncertainty with area residents.
“There is still an ongoing education with some people on that and how that will work,” he said. “These credits are a tool to get some of the equity so people who are in build areas can develop at a higher density – but only if they purchase conservation credits from the people who own that land.”
With development pressure on the area as both the City of Calgary and the Town of Cochrane continue to expand, Barss said Bearspaw has been identified as an area for growth within the County. However, there are still residents who are opposed to the notion of that growth, Barss said – but that becomes a council issue.
“Bearspaw is nearly 20 years old and needs some direction, and we have a duty to plan in a modern fashion in the areas identified,” he said. “The overall density of the plan is still only 1.5 or 1.6 units per acre, but because certain parts of the plan will be conserved, it’s not spread evenly.”
According to Barss, the plan will allow for a fairly high density within the hamlet core, with other parts of the plan more country residential with one lot per two acres. He said while there will be “limited local commercial” opportunities where residents can meet their daily needs, the area will not become a commercial destination.
“The people who love the park are certainly pleased with the progress, and we hope to see the project come to completion,” said Andy Crooks, chairman of the Glenbow Ranch Park Foundation board. “This is an important milestone – the first release of the first draft of the GBRASP.”
Barss is hoping for some constructive feedback following the release of the draft, which is available at rockyview.ca in “Plans Under Review” under the Building and Planning tab. Comments can be submitted to [email protected] until Sept. 15.
“I hope it’s a well-written plan and I hope it’s clear,” Barss said. “I think it is, but I would be surprised if we don’t make some changes based on the feedback we receive. That’s why we put it out there, we are looking for improvements. I’m hoping people take the time to read it and provide some suggestions, so we can make modifications to the draft before it goes to council.”
The plan will also be circulated to other agencies like Alberta Transportation, the City of Calgary and the Town of Cochrane before presentation to council, which Barss said is tentatively scheduled for December or January 2017.
