County councillors gave Rocky View planning staff the green light, Feb. 21, to begin working on a Land Reserve Policy, which is intended to simplify the development process.
The policy will provide direction and a framework for County staff to base its recommendations to council on Municipal Reserves (MR), School Reserves (SR), Environmental Reserves (ER) and cash-in-lieu during subdivision hearings.
ìAdministration is of the opinion that a Rocky View Land Reserve Policy would give direction to administration at all stages of the planning process,î said Mike Marko, senior municipal planner for Rocky View County.
The Municipal Government Act provides municipalities with the right to dedicate land as either MR, SR or ER at the subdivision stage.
Council may take up to 10 per cent of developments as a reserve or as cash-in-lieu. At times, reserve land, which becomes the property of Rocky View County or Rocky View Schools, may not be required or council may choose to defer it.
This complicated set of options, coupled with the diversity in developments and communities within the county, make staffís decision difficult prompting the new policy, according to Marko.
The County will conduct a review of existing policy, research practices in other municipalities, undertake public and internal consultation and prepare a policy framework as preparation for the new policy.
Although councillors gave staff the go-ahead, several raised concerns about the new policy including Lois Habberfield, who questioned the staff hours required to complete the project and the impact of the Countyís recreation boards.
ìThis is... leaning towards a lot more bureaucracy and red tape,î she said. ìI donít know if this is a priority in the workplace.î
Councillor Margaret Bahcheli echoed Habberfieldís concerns.
ìWe have such diverse interests... that we have delegated that decision-making process to those closer to the ground,î she said. ìI am reluctant when it is already legislated and it already works. This is an expense... I am not sure why we need a second layer.î
Councillor Earl Solberg said the new policy would be ìa worthwhile exercise.î
ìIt think it has the ability to provide at least some clarity,î he said.
