Starting next week, Rocky View is hosting a second round of workshops aimed at getting public feedback on the County Plan.
The workshops follow on the heels of seven events held in September and October throughout the county to get input on the Municipal Development Plan (MDP) a 15-year-old document, re-named the County Plan, which the municipal staff says is in need of updates.
“It’s really due,” said Richard Barss, County Plan project manager, of updating the plan that identifies the best growth sites in the county for up to 10 years.
Barss said besides identifying where growth will occur, this plan will talk about services including recreational and social that will be required with growth.
A total of 204 people showed up to the various workshops earlier this fall and 194 people provided input online. Participants were asked to vote on questions about the county’s growth, including its location, fiscal impacts and environmental sustainability.
“There are always people on both continuums,” said Barss of what people thought about growth. He said most people recognized that the Calgary region will grow and as a result areas in Rocky View County will likely also grow.
He said most people agreed with growth in hamlets, less people agreed with growth in county residential areas and fewer wanted to see it in agricultural areas. Most agreed some growth is necessary but wanted to see it managed so the environment, agricultural land and watersheds don’t suffer.
Results from the workshops show in the far west, east and north of the county the overall preference is for no growth or to locate the growth within hamlets and small towns.
There was general support for growth in west and east Blazac, Conrich and Janet with mixed support for growth in Bearspaw and North Cochrane Lakes, a report of the workshop results explain. There was some interest in growth along Highway 8 west of Elbow Valley but a number of participants felt it should occur only in adjacent urban municipalities.
People were also asked to comment on development principles. People agreed in the importance of maintaining the rural nature and county residential, hamlet and agricultural communities.
There was strong agreement that expansion must happen in an environmentally responsible manner but some had concerns with using the environment as a means to limit growth and said the County should rely on common sense, regulation and science when evaluating developments.
In terms of fiscal impact, many comments said development must be revenue-positive with capital costs paid up front. Some people questioned whether the cost of doing business in Rocky View is too low. Others were concerned businesses cannot bear the tax burden of the County.
The results will be presented in more detail during the upcoming workshops. The County will show draft goals that were developed after the first set of workshops.
“This round of workshops we will be showing people this is where we think we’re heading and asking them what they think,” said Barss.
He said the feedback from these workshops will be used to draft the County Plan. The draft is expected to be presented sometime in February to the public and neighbouring municipalities. The final plan will be presented to council in June.
“We’re hoping people come out to the workshops,” said Barss, who said staff was impressed with the number of people who came out for the first round.
The public events will be interactive and focus on small group discussions. They will run from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Nov. 27 at Bragg Creek Community Centre, Nov. 28 at the Cochrane RancheHouse, Nov. 29 at the Springbank Heritage Club, Dec. 3 at Goldenrod Community Hall, Dec. 5 at Prince of Peace Manor, Dec. 6 at the Langdon Field House and Dec. 12 at Beiseker Community Hall.
The complete results from the workshops can be found online at www.rockyview.ca/Countyplan
