COCHRANE— The Calgary Metropolitan Region Board Growth and Servicing plan is nearing completion, but an extension on the provincial deadline may be necessary to add the finishing touches.
The Board is currently voting to decide if a new deadline of June 1 should be requested, Mayor Jeff Genung said, and conversations have been taking place to decide if the proposed deadline will be adequate.
The Calgary Metropolitan Region Board is a not-for-profit government corporation with elected officials from Cochrane, Rocky View County, Airdrie, Calgary, Chestermere, Foothills County, High River, Okotoks, Strathmore and Wheatland County.
The mandate of the board is to support the regulation of long-term sustainability with a focus on environmentally responsible land-use planning, growth management and efficient use of lands, while also developing policies regarding the coordination of regional infrastructure investment and service delivery.
A motion to request an extension for the growth plan was brought forward at the Jan. 29 Calgary Metropolitan Region Board meeting. The motion is currently before members who will vote on the extension request via email.
If the request is approved by the Board a letter asking for an extension will be submitted to the Alberta Minister of Municipal Affairs.
Given the growth plan’s current deadline is March 1 the Board's administration anticipates a timely response from the province.
If the extension is not approved the Board will vote on the current draft in the coming weeks.
The initial deadline for the growth plan was set for Dec. 31, 2020. An extension to March 1 was provided by the province given the difficulties of completing the document during COVID-19.
Councillor Tara McFadden questioned if the new deadline for the regional growth plan could be reached if it is approved.
“Fingers crossed the province will work with us, but is that a goal that we’re actually going to be able to hit? Are we going to be able to put the final piece of the plan in this, and send it to the province for June 1?” McFadden said.
The plan has great value for the region, she added, because it will help to ensure municipalities in the Calgary region are being thoughtful on how the next million people can be incorporated into the area.
“Often in Cochrane, a lot of our conversations is around growth and if we are managing that properly,” McFadden said. “This regional plan is really addressing that. Over the next 30, 40, 50 years we’re expecting the population to double in the region— How do we plan that within the context of keeping our communities within the environmental constraints of water and how do we do it in an affordable and smart way with our infrastructure.”
During the creation of the Growth and Serving Plan economic, social and environmental impacts of expansion were analyzed. These factors include understanding the importance of density limits and their impacts on the region, said Chief Officer of the Calgary Metropolitan Region Board Jordon Copping.
The goal of exploring the data was to understand where and what developments should be pursued. An emphasis was placed on crafting positive economic and financial outcomes that can lead to a healthier region.
An impetus has been placed on cooperation between the municipalities, Copping said. The plan explores how the region can function as a whole, while allowing jurisdictions to maintain their unique identities.
The goal of the plan is to help build better communities within the Calgary Metropolitan Region based on an understanding there is “no one-size-fits-all” for municipalities.
“It’s a key to how you can make things more efficient in terms of taxpayer dollars and also more efficient in terms of environmental impacts," Copping said.
The plan can serve as a policy tool to help municipalities shape future growth— This includes guiding new urban growth focussed on preferred place types, focussing growth in identified areas, supporting growth with appropriate scale and density and allowing approved Area Structure Plans to build out in accordance with the approved Calgary Metropolitan Region Board growth plan.
“Local jurisdictions have as much flexibility as always,” Copping said. “The regional plan doesn’t come inside the city boundaries and say this is where the roads go, or this is where the housing should sit— It really just says here’s a target.”
Copping noted municipalities will be able to collaborate to shape areas that have shared impacts.
Joint planning areas are located near municipalities that anticipate high growth and serve as a place where regions can start to work together in terms of sharing infrastructure. Current joint planning areas in the Calgary Metropolitan Region Board are near Airdrie, Okotoks, High River and Chestermere.
Once the plan is in place the Calgary Metropolitan Region Board Growth and Serving Plan will go through a periodic review and revision plan to ensure it is meeting the needs of municipalities. The reviews will allow for adjustments in the region as needed.
“What I’ve come to appreciate about it is the flexibility,” Genung said. “That really is the strength of this plan. It’s really not cementing anyone to one thing or walking down a tunnel that we’re on forever. We can adjust and morph as we go.”
He noted one of the most challenging aspects of crafting the plan in collaboration with Cochrane’s rural neighbours.
Genung said they have come to the table feeling they are the most affected by the growth plan, but a focus has been placed on ensuring municipalities can work together.
The biggest hurdle for the region has proven to be melding the interface of rural and urban settings, Copping said. This includes guiding how rural areas can evolve in ways that healthy.
The presentation was inspiring, said Coun. Alex Reed, and great work has been put into looking at the common good for the region without losing the independence of individual municipalities.
“Regional planning is much more than, I think, just the community building types. For me it's about resources, be they water, recreation, cultural,” Reed said. “But, most importantly about the ... Collaboration of a regional approach for the common good.”
