The plan: to put the Cochrane Community Vision into the sphere of public engagement and finalize it to guide how the town wants the region to develop in the years to come.
It’s what Mayor Jeff Genung has been wanting for the town – inspired by last year’s trip to Boulder, Colorado. It was during this trip where Genung observed firsthand how a small city on the borders of big-city Denver can remain “vibrant” and retain its small-town feel, despite its population boom to 100,000 residents.
”What legacy do we, as a council, want to leave behind?” said Genung, adding that the Jack Tennant Memorial Bridge may have been named and built on this council’s watch, but it is thanks to the hard work of previous staff and councils that it has come to arrive at this stage of the game.
With a “Cochrane Vision” implemented, as presented by administration at Tuesday night council, Genung feels Cochrane will have stake in how neighbouring Rocky View County develops on the town’s borders.
The draft plan, as presented by town CAO Dave Devana, has a heavy emphasis on promoting and preserving pathways, greenery and natural spaces.
This stems from previous town-led engagements that have drawn this overwhelming desire from residents: to maintain the natural beauty of Cochrane that sets it apart from other municipalities on Calgary’s borders.
“We want to protect the green corridors in and around Cochrane,” said Devana, with displays on board indicating future plans by the county to develop for up to 13,000 people north of town, 10,000 in Harmony on the south, 4,000 in Bearspaw and another 13,400 with the Glenbow Ranch ASP to the east.
Coun. Morgan Nagel expressed enthusiastic support: “This document sends the right message ... I’ve always been worried that 50 or 60 years from now Calgary just consumes Cochrane.”
Learn more about coming public engagement at letstalkcochrane.ca.
