Annexation plans bring forward concerns

The Town of Black Diamond’s plan to annex about four quarter-sections of land has some residents concerned. At a public information session in the municipal hall on Oct. 15, the Town shared its plan to annex 614 acres of MD of Foothills land, with 308 acres proposed for residential, 141 acres for business development and 164 acres for strategic reasons like creating a contiguous border with Turner Valley. In the coming weeks, the Town will go into negotiations with the MD to come up with an agreement. James Thomson, who rents land northeast of Black Diamond where he farms chickens, cattle and grows hay, said the proposal calls for absorbing his land into the Town. “I’m concerned about taxes,” he said, adding he expects an annual increase of about $1,000 if his land becomes part of the town. “It’s double what we would normally pay and you don’t get the services.” Thomson also expressed concerns about animal licensing and how much livestock he’ll be allowed to keep once part of the Town. “I get the expansion and development needs, just as long as it doesn’t affect the taxes and animals,” he said. Diana Hocking, who farms south of Black Diamond with husband David, said their farm was designated future urban growth in the region’s 2002 intermunicipal development plan, putting restrictions on the land. It remained the same designated when Black Diamond and Turner Valley completed the Joint Growth Strategic Plan in 2016. This year, the land wasn’t included in the annexation proposal, Hocking said. “I really feel like we’ve been encumbered by it because they have restrictions on you,” she said. “Now we’ve been taken off.” The Hockings were shocked at the change. “There hasn’t been a lot of good rationale provided to us,” she said. “We weren’t notified and hadn’t had any input into this. To be held since 2002 for future urban development we feel it’s quite unfair. For those reasons we object to the annexation as currently proposed.” Information at the meeting shows the annual population growth in Black Diamond averaged 2.7 per cent the past decade. The Town’s vacant land has a capacity for 730 more people in the town of about 2,700. The strategy plan looks ahead 60 years, with key features being a business park east of the lagoon, commercial areas east of Black Diamond on Highway 22 and Black Diamond and Turner Valley connected by residential centres and open space for the Sheep River. It projects the Town will require 132-191 acres by 2045 and 367-556 acres by 2075. Heather Hemingway, MD of Foothills director of planning, answered questions around taxation and future uses for the land at last week’s meeting. Hemingway said the proposed land is currently under consideration. Input from the public will be incorporated in discussions between the Town and MD as it negotiates annexation in the coming months, she said. “Ideally we come to a solution together,” she said. “Our goal is to find a solution to work with municipalities and all the communities to work together towards growth.” Hemingway said at least two more public sessions will be held, providing more opportunities for input. Mayor Ruth Goodwin answered several questions about the annexation process, which have been incorporated into a document that’s now available on the town website. “We had about 20 individuals come through to ask questions and walk through,” she said. “I had conversations with representatives from community businesses who wanted to try to understand where things would potentially go and also understanding that the town is not purchasing this land. More people wanted clarification of what annexation was and what would change.” Next, the Town and MD will finalize an agreement, host more public meeting and submit an application to the Municipal Government Board, which will advertise to the public, host pubic hearing in the event of objections and submit the final plan to the Province for approval.