Rural development and growth were the primary concern of residents attending a Rocky View County workshop in Bragg Creek on Nov. 27.
Rocky View County (RVC) is preparing a master plan to update the current Municipal Development Plan adopted in 1998. The county plan will guide council on future development and services for the next 10 years.
RVC held workshops in September and October building on issues and priorities raised in a survey conducted last summer.
A second set of workshops are being held in November and December to seek public input on the initial policy directions Rocky View residents provided in the fall.
“We are asking people to react and comment to the first cuts (made from the first set of workshops) about the goals and policy directions we are developing in the county plan,” said county plan project manager Richard Barss.
However, residents in the Bragg Creek area were concerned about future development in the region and want to ensure the low level of development in Bragg Creek is maintained.
“Rocky View’s real advantage is low density housing, open space, and a place for agriculture,” said workshop participant and Bragg Creek resident Gordon McIlwain. “High density growth should occur in cities like Airdrie and Calgary, leaving Rocky View with opportunity to pursue more low density growth.”
McIlwain said the Greater Bragg Creek Area Structure Plan (ASP), that governs development in the area, indicated Bragg Creek is one of the few places in RVC whose residents are concerned about environmental protection and low level growth.
“My only hope as this plan goes forward is that the county is going to follow the area structure plan for Bragg Creek,” said McIlwain.
Rocky View Division 1 Coun. Liz Breakey said Bragg Creek has an area structure plan in place and it is important the county abide by the document.
“We have a really strong area structure plan that has community consensus behind it and as long as the County honours the spirit and intent of the Greater Bragg Creek ASP we will be fine,” said Breakey.
According to RVC September/October Workshops Report opinion on growth in the Springbank and Bragg Creek areas was divided.
Springbank residents Richard Wilson and Gerry Arshinoff said they attended the workshop as observers to ensure the process was open and transparent.
“The county staff here is doing a good job trying to solicit input and it looks like a fair process,” said Wilson.
“Many people were discouraged because of the recent council approval of Bingham Crossing,” Arshinoff added.
Bingham Crossing, a 61-hectare development to be located west of Calgary and north of Highway 1 near Calaway Park, will include a senior’s housing complex, office, retail and commercial space.
“Bingham Crossing demonstrates the issue where the public’s rejection of it was outright and the local councillors, elected by the local community, were against it and yet council still approved it,” said Wilson.
“I used to have fairly strong opinions as to how Springbank has developed, but now all I have are two objectives,” he said. “One is to make sure there is a plan that is adhered to and the other is to help make sure the community decides about development.”
According to Barss the workshop process is valuable as residents feel they have had input into guiding future development.
“After this final set of workshops we are going back to the public in February with a draft plan and hope to get their comments,” Barss said. “I’m quite happy with the Bragg Creek workshop as there was good participation and good input from residents. We hope we get feedback that helps direct policy.”
Wilson said it is imperative residents feel their voice was heard when the Municipal Development Plan is tabled before council.
“In theory workshops are great, but if councillors don’t adhere to the people’s recommendations it’s a waste of taxpayers’ money,” said Wilson. “This can lead to public participation burn-out.”
The county’s plan will be finalized next June.
The plan’s policy directions will be based on public input from workshops and Rocky View council’s discussion paper on rural growth management.
