Planning & Development

Seven Regional Plans are being prepared under the provincial Land-use Framework.  The Alberta Land Stewardship Act establishes the legal basis for the development of Regional Plans under the Land Use Framework. 

Includes: Intermunicipal Development Plans, Intermunicipal Collaboration Framework(s), Municipal Development Plans, Area Structure Plans, and Area Redevelopment Plans.  Subdivision and development decisions are required to be consistent with any approved statutory plan.  Listed below are the statutory plans as they appear in the MGA from general to specific: 

Addresses future land use and development within the municipality and coordinates land use, future growth patterns, transportation systems, municipal services and facilities within the municipality as well as other infrastructure that relates to adjacent municipalities.  This must also contain policies compatible with the subdivision and development regulations, provision of municipal and school reserves and the protection of agricultural operations.

Area Structure Plan (ASP) A municipal council has the option to adopt an ASP to provide a framework for developing a specific area within the municipality.  Unlike other statutory plans, an ASP is generally prepared by a developer and not necessarily initiated by the municipality.  An ASP must describe the proposed development sequence, proposed land uses for the area, proposed population density of the area, and the general location of major transportation routes and public utilities. 

Area Redevelopment Plan (ARP) A municipal council has the option to develop an ARP for a designated area of the municipality to preserve land and buildings, to rehabilitate, remove or construct buildings, to improve roads, to generally facilitate development in the area, and for collection of redevelopment levies.  An ARP includes the objectives of the plan, the proposed land uses, the reasons for any redevelopment levies to be proposed as part of the plan, and any proposals for acquiring land for municipal uses, schools, parks and recreation. 

Under the MGA, all municipalities are required to adopt a land use bylaw.  The land use bylaw divides the municipality into districts, prescribes the uses of land and establishes development standards for each district, and provides for a system for issuing development permits. 

A document permitting a specific development and  may include conditions imposed to ensure that the development complies with the current Land Use Bylaw.