The major statutory planning document that sets out the context in which the community of Canmore will develop over the next decade has been updated and rewritten and received first reading by council, meaning it is ready for the public hearing stage.
The Municipal Development Plan was put out for public consideration in September with a much shorter timeline for consultation with the community. However, once council and administration began receiving feedback from the public, the process was extended into 2016.
Timelines were not the only criticism of the plan which, once approved, will replace the 1998 Municipal Development Plan. The tone of the document was also challenged by council, which directed administration to return with a rewritten document to better reflect the intent and vision of council.
Development planner Tracy Woitenko said public consultation so far and council direction in December provided a wide range of ways to improve the MDP.
She said the planning document is not a static one, it is a living document that needs to respond to the changing conditions of the community. Woitenko also said council’s reiteration in December that affordable housing is the number one priority was maintained in the document.
“There were quite a few concerns about the tone of the document and it almost seemed to cause fear over growth and change,” she said. “In reality, a lot has changed because of the editing process we did and looking at whether the tone meets the intent.”
The key, she said, was to have the MDP continue to reflect the goals and vision for future development of the community and what council wants to achieve, but in a way that is acceptable to the community.
Woitenko said sections that related to change in the community were rewritten to recognize that change will happen, but that it will not be forced on established neighbourhoods. There was a concern from some residents that the first draft of the MDP set out to forcibly change neighbourhoods. Woitenko said the MDP does not prescribe changes in the community, however, it does provide the context within which change can occur.
“We cannot make everybody happy, but it is really moving forward with what is best for the community and the recognition we are trying to build a good community,” she said. “As a guiding document, the MDP does not make decisions for council, but provides the tools and context to make decisions.”
Council was happy with the new version of the MDP and the change in tone. First reading was approved unanimously and a public hearing set for March 8 at 6 p.m. at the Civic Centre.
“This version hits the mark a lot better than what we looked at in December,” said Mayor John Borrowman. “The tone, consistency and voice, I think, make it a much stronger document and it will survive the test of time more readily.”
While much improved, there were still a few sticky points, including the reluctance of administration to define adjacency in the MDP when it comes to requiring an Environmental Impact Assessments.
Woitenko said instead of having a rigid definition of adjacency, planning would prefer flexibility to determine if an EIA is needed in every single permit application.
Councillor Sean Krausert said his concern is the process has gone from requiring an environmental impact assessment every time to a “we’ll see” approach.
“I am very pleased with this document going to public hearing and I look forward to what the public says,” Krauser said. “I do have some items I may consider proposing amendments to at second reading depending on what I hear.”
The new version of the MDP is available at canmore.ca along with a redlined version that details all changes that have occurred so far.
