The Town and MD of Bonnyville are working together to create a plan for their communities.
Last Thursday (May 25), residents had their say about the Intermunicipal Development Plan (IDP) between the town and MD. The IDP open house shed some light on what the agreement entails, the future of development within the municipalities, and how it impacts their residents' future plans.
Having feedback from the residents is an integral part of the process, said Town of Bonnyville assistant CAO Bill Rogers.
“You're planning the future direction of the town… so we're trying to provide a snapshot of what our community is going to look like 30 years from now, and we plan an orderly growth of the community for that time. It's best that we have as many people involved in that process as possible so everybody's expectations, hopes, wants, and dreams are brought into part of the planning process.”
The agreement is mandatory through the Municipal Government Act (MGA).
Bonnie McInnis, senior land use planner for Stantec Consulting Ltd, highlighted some of the key components to the IDP.
“They (the IDP) outline possible future land uses, and determine where likely future expansion of the town may occur,” she explained.
The agreement reinforces the responsibilities of both the town and the MD to ensure the required set-backs for oil and gas facilities are respected, and any wetlands, land use, or other policies in place are obeyed.
Natural and man-made constraints for future developments are also outlined in the IDP. This includes wetlands, lakes, pipelines, well sites, gravel pits, landfills, the Iron Horse Trail, and the airport.
Any current Area Structure Plan (ASP) agreements take precedence over the IDP agreement. The MD currently has 13 ASPs approved, while the town has 11.
Current MD policies regarding land designated for agricultural use will remain in place, while premature development or fragmentation of agricultural land is to be avoided.
“Residential development will be allowed where currently planned or identified in either municipalities municipal development plans, ASPs, or where already approved. No multi-residential development will be allowed in the future commercial or industrial growth areas identified in the IDP, or within the airport study area,” McInnis explained.
The IDP refers to the lands surrounding the town of Bonnyville, where there is room for potential future growth or annexation. None of this will be happening within the next few years however, McInnis stressed.
It also outlines economic development and tourism, requiring the Town and the MD to work together for the betterment of both municipalities. It aims to increase the regional economy by promoting the region's agriculture, tourism, and recreational strengths.
Once a study of the airport is being completed, the assessment will take precedence over land use and planning decisions for the airport and lands near it that may impact its operations.
A policy will be put in place for this area, as well as Highway 41 and 28, within the IDP. McInnis said both municipalities recognize that as the economy of the area grows, demand for industrial and highway commercial lands will also grow.
She explained, “A detailed servicing study is being completed in conjunction with the IDP and should be referred to regarding specific servicing requirements and standards for identified lands within the IDP boundary.”
Areas for industrial, commercial, and residential growth are identified in the IDP. This is important in determining how a municipality will work and look, noted Chris Cambridge, CAO for the MD.
“The idea is to keep the community so you actually have a community and not a residence and then a store, and then industry,” he explained. “One of the big things in these kinds of plans is they're a blueprint to move forward so in 10, 20, or 30 years when we think ‘gee, we shouldn't have put the plant there, it should have gone over here instead.'”
Should they change their minds and consider planning industrial projects in a residential zone, the municipality would be required to take it to public hearing.
The open house was an opportunity for McInnis to get feedback from residents and later address those concerns by refining the IDP. In July, a public hearing will be hosted to meet the requirements of the IDP agreement process.
“I found that Bonnyville tends to have good participation during these get togethers, which is good from a planning perspective because you don't want to do these sorts of things without some input from the public,” said Rogers. “We're hoping everyone realizes this is an orderly and friendly agreement between the two municipalities to provide reasonable plans for future growth. It's collaboration between the town and the MD. We work well together and we want to grow in a way that makes sense.”
