The MD of Foothills is studying what development within its boundaries will look like.
It has begun work on a growth management strategy and it is seeking input from foothills residents on what it should include.
MD Planner Heather Hemmingway said the final strategy will identify what kind of development will occur in different parts of the MD. However, it won’t go so far as to specify areas where development will not be allowed, she said.
“We are looking at having some more guidance with development, more guidance for council and for the development community,” said Hemmingway.
For now, she said they are looking to hear back from MD residents about what they want to see.
A series open houses and meetings will be held in the spring to give residents across the MD an opportunity to learn what is important to them and how these values can be protected as the MD continues to grow. No open houses have been scheduled at this time.
As well, the MD has loaded a video on its website (www.mdfoothills.com) outlining the process and discussing various aspects of different areas across the foothills. A survey is also available on-line. Anyone without internet access can receive a DVD copy of the video and printed version of the survey.
After receiving community feedback, MD administration will draw up a report, which will outline what residents said they valued most and a vision for the future.
Hemmingway said the public consultation process will be wrapped up in the spring and she hopes to have a draft of the report drawn up by the end of the year.
MD Reeve Larry Spilak said it’s important to councillors that the process occur from the ground up with participation from MD residents.
“It gives them a voice and then we take their direction to make appropriate decisions,” he said.
While the MD has a Municipal Development Plan (MDP) to guide decisions over development proposals, Spilak said it doesn’t set out where growth should occur.
“What the MDP does not include is the opportunity to identify where this development should or should not take place,” he said.
Spilak said the growth strategy will give council an overall direction when make decisions regarding growth. He said the strategy will look at what future growth will look like, as well as how dense it could be or whether it should include commercial proposals.
According to Spilak, many who live in the southern portion of the MD don’t agree with large-scale residential development. On the other hand, he said it makes sense to do more higher density developments in the northern part of the MD because of the proximity to Calgary and existing developments.
The MD withdrew from the Calgary Regional Partnership in 2009 and has not signed on to the Calgary Metropolitan Plan, which is intended to guide growth in the Calgary region.
If the MD continued to remain outside the partnership, Spliak said it still needs to address how growth will occur within its borders. If the MD re-joins the CRP, he said it will help identify where MD residents believe future expansion of Calgary should occur.
