The City of Calgary has officially notified Rocky View County (RVC) it is seeking annexation of 4,000 acres of RVC land.
According to a County press release, on Sept. 17, RVC received official notice from the City it has formally initiated an annexation application for lands on the county's southeastern corner. The boundaries include lands to the north of Highway 560, east of Range Road 282, south of the Canada Pacific Railway line, and west of Range Road 284.
“The proposed annexation area was identified as a future growth area in the Rocky View – Calgary Intermunicipal Development Plan, adopted by both the City and Rocky View County in 2007,” the RVC release stated. “The lands were identified as [being] required for future industrial growth of the City and the annexation of these lands would see them developed within the City’s jurisdiction.”
With the formal process for annexation in motion, the release said RVC will determine its position on the proposed annexation at a future council meeting.
“However, the County will participate in annexation discussions with the City in good faith,” the release stated. “This is often a lengthy process, and the exact boundaries of the proposed annexation may be subject to minor changes over the course of discussions.
RVC mayor Don Kochan said the County will ensure the voices of residents are heard throughout the discussion process,
“[The County] remains committed to the best possible outcomes for businesses and residents,” the County's new mayor said in the statement.
While the annexation process can be lengthy, next steps would include public consultation. The release from RVC stated landowners and business owners within the proposed area (within a 1.6-kilometre radius) will receive invitations to attend one of two open houses in 2022.
Josh White, director of growth strategies with the City of Calgary, said the annexation is a way to further the municipality's ability to grow, both for its residential and commercial industrial sectors.
“It’s to make sure we have adequate land supply to accommodate the development and growth of the city,” he said.
He said annexations in Alberta are regulated by the Land and Property Rights Tribunal, which is dealt with on a provincial level. The process involves the application, which has already taken place, followed by negotiations with local governments, a public engagement period, and a formal review.
“The Minister of Municipal Affairs brings forward the annexation to cabinet, and if approved, the annexation order is signed by the Lieutenant Governor of Alberta,” he explained.
According to White, the annexation process happens in Calgary approximately once every 10 to 20 years. With it being 14 years since the initial discussion, White said the time has come to move forward with the process.
While 4,000 acres may seem like a lot, White said previous annexations have reached the 25,000-acre mark.
“In terms of scale, historically speaking, it's not the largest or most significant annexation we’ve undertaken,” White said. “We want to be as diligent as possible. It’s a complex process, but the City and the County are relatively experienced at undertaking these kinds of exercises. I think what we are confident about is being able to move through the process that is prescribed.”
Kent Robinson, acting chief administrative officer for RVC, said while the decision is ultimately made at the provincial level, the two municipalities play an important part in the process.
“Generally, in the past when we’ve had these situations, we’ve formed a negotiating committee and we’ve gone through a negotiation to make sure there are things that are protected in that are for a period of time,” he said.
According to Robinson, it remains to be seen what council’s position on the application will be, as the proposed annexation has yet to come before them.
“They haven’t seen it yet, all they have seen is the application,” he said. “We will develop a report and bring it to council for them to give us direction likely on what is important and what is not in this regard.”
While there is no firm date on when the item will come before council, Robinson said the County is hoping to have something ready before the end of the year.
Jordan Stricker, AirdrieToday.com
Follow me on Twitter @jaystrickz
