Rocky View County (RVC) council approved $695,400 in 2014 recreational operational district funding at the meeting on June 10.
RVC Recreation Services Coordinator Dari Lang said the annual levy funding allocated to the 10 district recreation boards will be used by 52 community organizations for financial assistance with operational needs.
Among the allocated funding, Rocky View West Recreation Board received $278,423; Bearspaw Glendale Recreation Board received $145,082; Bow North Recreation Board received $92,965; and Rocky View East received $36,230.
Community groups within the recreation boards receiving funding include: $185,000 for the Bragg Creek Community Centre; $122,832 for the Bearspaw Glendale Community Association; and $16,500 for the Glenbow Ranch Park Foundation.
Lang said the 2014 budget for recreation district funding is $1,099,500.
The remaining funds will be allocated to the capital accounts of each recreation board.
Time extension
RVC council approved extending the deadline for creation of the proposed joint Area Structure Plans (ASP) between RVC and the Town of Crossfield for another two years.
Following the Town of Crossfield’s annexation of 1,696 acres of County land in July 2009, the agreement included a provision for both municipalities to create an Intermunicipal Development Plan (IDP) and Joint Area Structure Plan (ASP) by 2012.
RVC Senior Planner Drew Hyndman said the Town of Crossfield/Rocky View IDP was approved and adopted in 2013 following an extension from both council’s, however, due to resource and budget constraints, work has not yet begun on the joint ASP.
Hyndman said with the deadline extended to June 17, 2016, administration will begin drafting the Terms of Reference for the joint ASP for consideration by both councils.
He said approval of the Terms of Reference is required in order for the Town and the County to apply for grant funding from the Provincial government to assist with the cost of completing the document.
Hyndman added he expects work on the document to take place next year.
Council unanimously approved the request.
Agricultural Services
Following a recommendation from the May 15, Agricultural Service Board meeting, RVC council unanimously approved supporting a Wetland Restoration Pilot Research Program to take place in Rocky View County.
The program was proposed by the Alberta Land Institute (ALI), a research institute at the University of Alberta, to further understand the economic factors of wetland restoration and compensation.
RVC Communications Coordinator Anna Melnick said the Nose Creek and West Nose Creek watersheds within the County were suggested by ALI to be considered as research areas.
According to a County report, the research project will help agencies meet their provincial wetland compensation obligations; develop a policy that creates an incentive to restore previously-drained wetlands; and track the success of restoration projects.
Funding for the project is provided by ALI and its donors, and the project is supported by the Alberta Environment and Sustainable Resources Department (AESRD).
Melnick said more information about the project will be publicized within the coming months.
Final approvals
Rocky View County council voted in favour of second and third reading for Appendix 8 of the Watermark development, which will be located in the northeast section of the development in Bearspaw, at the June 10 meeting.
The application will enable a 860-seating Centre Street Church and nine residential lots to be built on a 30-acre parcel in the northeast section of the development.
The application was presented to council on May 27, and received first reading.
However, it was tabled to allow the applicants - B&A Planning Group – time to return with more information regarding stormwater drainage, transportation conceptual plans and servicing.
The applicants submitted a letter confirming the developer, Macdonald Watermark Properties Ltd., will provide water and wastewater services through infrastructure located in Phase Two of the development. A map detailing upgrades to the adjacent road was also submitted. Pending future development, 12 Mile Coulee Road will eventually be upgraded to a four-land divided road from Highway 1A to Township Road 252.
Council unanimously voted in favour of second and third reading of the motion.
