City of Calgary and MD of Foothills Intermunicipal Development Plan Information Package for Public Open House #3 March 2, 2016 at the DeWinton Community Hall 3-8pm This information package is being provided in response to a suggestion from stakeholders that it would be helpful to have the opportunity to review materials in advance of the 3 rd public open house on the Intermunicipal Development Plan project.
In this package, you will find draft maps for growth areas, a gateway / interface area and special country residential area as well as draft policies. This is a portion of the information that will be shared at the open house. 1. Draft Growth Areas: The Draft growth areas are not final at this time; there will be further discussions between the City of Calgary and the MD of Foothills after reviewing the feedback following the public open house. Draft Growth Area for the City of Calgary: This is the area where the City of Calgary would eventually annex lands to support future urban growth. Annexation is presently not anticipated for at least 20 years. Draft Special Growth Policy Area: A portion of these lands may be considered for future growth for the City of Calgary depending on the future alignment of a Sarcee Trail Extension that is included in
Alberta Transportation s long range plans. This area would not be subject to the Draft Growth Area policies. There may be policy to cover how a portion of it could be included in the City of Calgary Growth Area in the future. Potential MD Future Growth Direction Arrows: These are the directions where the MD of Foothills anticipates growth may be supported in the future. More precise identification of lands for future growth as well as the forms that growth may take will be considered in the MD of Foothills future plan for the Central Growth Management District. It is likely that the Central District planning process will commence after growth areas for the City of Calgary and the Town of Okotoks have been finalized. Draft Policy - Subdivision in Growth Areas for the City of Calgary Subdivision of lands in the growth areas may be supported on parcels of 40 acres or greater to a maximum density of 8 units per quarter section or a proportional share thereof. Subdivision of land should be done in such a way as to facilitate future development and densification to City of Calgary densities with lot sizes as small as possible, clustering of lots wherever possible and including provisions for future transportation connections. Subdivision of lands to densities greater than 8 units per quarter may be considered in the context of an ASP where there is provision for future densification to City of Calgary densities and to service those densities and where both municipalities agree to support the development as proposed. Notwithstanding the policies in the residential section of the M.D. of Foothills MDP, subdivision of existing country residential parcels into smaller country residential parcels will generally not be supported in the future growth areas except in exceptional circumstances. Draft Policy - Re-zoning and Development in Growth Areas for the City of Calgary Re-zoning: Redesignation of lands from agricultural or country residential district to commercial or industrial land use districts will generally not be supported. Development: Evaluation of applications for development in the growth areas will consider what impact the development may have on the future development of the lands to City of Calgary densities after annexation.
In some cases it may be appropriate to issue development permits only on a temporary basis in the future growth area. Any development that would cause land to be contaminated hampering future development would not be supported in the identified growth areas. 2. Gateway / Interface Area and Sensitive Uses: At the previous open house events we heard concerns from landowners about cross boundary impacts from certain types of land uses, in particular outdoor storage. In response to these concerns, a Gateway and Interface area has been suggested. This area would be subject to additional referrals and consultation between the municipalities with respect to sensitive uses. Draft Policy - Gateway / Interface Areas - Sensitive Uses Uses likely to have significant off-site impacts due to visual obtrusiveness, increased traffic, noise, offensive odors, security concerns and light trespass,
including but not limited to Bed and Breakfast, Power Generation Facilities, and Vehicle or outdoor storage uses, are deemed Sensitive Uses. Applications for Sensitive Uses in the Gateway and Interface Policy Area will be subject to special circulation requirements. Sensitive Uses may be restricted in the Gateway and Interface Policy Area and subject to special density requirements, maximum size requirements, setbacks, screening or other conditions deemed necessary to reduce cross-boundary impacts. Applications for sensitive uses in the Gateway and Interface Policy Area shall be evaluated with consideration of the potential impacts on existing and planned uses in the vicinity of the application. Applications for Sensitive Uses outside of the Gateway and Interface Policy Area that require access through the adjacent municipality shall be circulated as though they were inside the Interface Area. Should one of the Partner Municipalities have a concern with respect to a proposed application for a Sensitive Use in the Interface or Gateway areas, which cannot be resolved at the administrative level, the matter should be taken to the Intermunicipal Committee for discussion. 3. Protection of Regional Assets Both municipalities recognize that they have, within their boundaries, regional assets that provide benefit to both municipalities and the region as a whole. These may include environmentally significant areas, culturally significant areas, recreational opportunities and services, among others. Draft Policy - Protection of Regional Assets The City of Calgary and the M.D. of Foothills will work together to support the protection and enhancement of regional assets for mutual benefit. The City of Calgary and the M.D. of Foothills may undertake joint projects for the protection or enhancement of regional assets utilizing the process for Intermunicipal cooperation. The Partner Municipalities recognize the importance of maintaining dark skies for the Rothney Observatory and the Ann and Sandy Cross Conservation Area Nocturnal Preserve and will work together to minimize potential light pollution in the IDP area.
The Partner Municipalities recognize that there are areas within the IDP plan area that provide core habitat and wildlife corridors and linkages, and will work together as appropriate to facilitate the protection and / or enhancement of significant connected wildlife habitat areas. The Partner Municipalities recognize that there are areas within the IDP plan area that provide valuable ecosystem services and will work together to support stewardship of these areas where deemed appropriate. Both municipalities will give due consideration to any impacts that development may have on core habitat and wildlife corridors and areas that provide valuable ecosystem services. Draft Special Country Residential Area South of Highway 22X and west of 64 th Street has been proposed as a special policy area. These lands, in addition to providing beautiful panoramic views to the south and west, contain regional assets in the form of agricultural lands, environmentally
significant areas (including watershed areas and significant wildlife corridors), culturally significant areas and recreational opportunities. Draft Policy - Special Country Residential Area Both municipalities agree that the Special Country Residential Area should not be considered a future growth area for either municipality and should remain in the jurisdiction of the M.D. of Foothills. Future Country Residential subdivision may be considered as appropriate in this area. Any future subdivision or development in this area should be sensitive to the environmental and cultural benefits that the land currently provides to residents and to the region as a whole. The importance of this area as a view shed and a gateway to the Kananaskis should be considered when evaluating applications for subdivision or development. Subdivision or development proposals in this area should be evaluated in consultation with the City of Calgary. 4. Opportunities to provide Feedback: We value your opinion and invite you to speak with project staff from both the City of Calgary and the MD of Foothills at our 3 rd public open house on Wednesday, March 2 nd, 2016 from 3-8pm at the DeWinton Community Hall. Should you be unable to attend, the full set of panels from the open house will be posted on the project webpage with an online survey. Alternatively, you may contact project staff by phone or email. The responses collected will be compiled by staff and taken into consideration throughout the process of refining the growth areas and the policy to be included in the Intermunicipal Development Plan. There will be future opportunities to provide additional feedback at a public information session once the draft plan has been completed and then on the proposed plan as part of the formal approval process.
MD Foothills Contact: Julie McLean Senior Planner 403.603.6239 Julie.Mclean@mdfoothills.com City of Calgary Contacts: Natalia Zoldak Planner II City Wide & Regional Strategies 403.268.2711 Natalia.Zoldak@calgary.ca Lisa Kahn Senior Planner City Wide & Regional Strategies 403.268.1456 Lisa.Kahn@calgary.ca