Rural and urban municipalities need to find a way to bridge their differences if the Calgary Regional Partnership (CRP) has any chance for success.
Rural municipalities, including the MD of Foothills, remain hesitant to join the (CRP) despite changes to the governance model which could, in its existing form, give the City of Calgary a veto.
Foothills MD Reeve Larry Spilak has stated the CRP and the Calgary Municipal Plan benefit the urban municipalities such as Calgary and Okotoks, but do not have much for the rurals.
Foothills council does not feel the rurals have enough say in the future development of land in the MDs and counties.
The rurals feel they are nothing more than land banks for Calgary as it continues to expand.
They are probably right in voicing this concern and pulling out of the partnership.
However, growth will be within the MD of Foothills — not only as Calgary expands south, but also if Okotoks resolves its water issues and elects to grow as well. Therefore, the MD of Foothills has a lot at stake with the Calgary Municipal Plan.
Growth will not only mean additional residential development, but it will also mean expansion of regional transportation and assorted other utilities associated with more density.
This growth is going to happen as it is expected an additional 1.6 million people will move to the Calgary region over the next 60 years.
As a result, sound long-term planning is essential to prepare for the families, businesses and industry coming our way.
However, the long-term planning cannot happen if some of the critical players are not at the table when these integral decisions are made.
Premier Alison Redford has been adamant she will not force an agreement upon the Calgary Regional Partnership.
However, this impasse cannot carry on in perpetuity nor can you have a partnership where all of the members are not willing and equal partners.
The rural municipalities were right to pull out of the CRP and they have made a valid point.
However, now it is time to come back to the table and discuss their concerns as members of the partnership.
They will have the two-year transition period to ensure they are more than simply a land bank for Calgary — they and their ratepayers have a voice which needs to be heard.
