A new and potentially innovative approach to land use planning for the undeveloped lands left in Three Sisters has the green light from Canmore’s elected officials.
Sometimes referred to as sites seven, eight and nine, the Smith Creek area represents the remaining area of land to be developed by Three Sisters Mountain Village. With approximately 286 hectares in the area, the site has been the subject of controversy and debate in the past.
But in order to move forward, Quantum Place Developments, which represents the landowners, needs an area structure plan and they, along with Canmore’s planning department, proposed a collaborative process and establishment of a community advisory group.
Quantum Place managing principal Chris Ollenberger told council it is an innovative approach to working together that he hopes will result in a development plan the community supports.
“This will really help us determine the overall vision of where we will go in Three Sisters and I think some of the angst in the community … has been about what is the future of this third of the project and where is it going,” he said.
Manager of planning Alaric Fish presented council with a guideline for working together and a draft terms of reference for a community advisory group.
He welcomed out of the box thinking to work collaboratively and said he hopes after the last attempt at an ASP by receiver PricewaterhouseCoopers stalled, this new approach will have a better response from the community.
“We are trying to create a Canmore approach to it,” Fish said. “The other piece that came up is there are new owners in place and new staff … it is kind of a fresh start, so let’s bring a fresh approach. Administration was keen to try something innovative and different.”
Ollenberger said the ownership group, which includes prior owners Blair Richardson and Don Taylor, is cautiously optimistic about the process and agreed to fund the six-figure budget.
“It is a large risk and a lot of money to go into it, but I think at the end of the day they saw a lot of benefits,” he said, adding that a collaborative process may not always be a “cake walk” for those involved due to the variety of viewpoints the process will experience.
“Our end goal is we recognize we are not going to have 100 per cent agreement. Hopefully the level of informed opinion will be higher than it can be reactionary.”
Fish said he acknowledges there is concern in the community about the planning department working with developers closely on the application.
“The key piece is allowing the community to have input into the creation of the plan and that is not a normal process,” he said.
He added there will be significant engagement in the process with the community in general alongside the committee working with TSMV and administration on solutions. The ASP will also go through the regular statutory process with council and a public hearing.
“I think everyone in the community is really tired of the old process, so I am really pleased we are trying something different and also quite hopeful it will work,” said Mayor John Borrowman.
Councillors were also supportive of the plan, which will return to a final terms of reference approved in the near future.
“I do believe it will improve the process and public engagement,” said Councillor Rob Seeley. “Hopefully this will help the process and be more productive in the future.”
As for the final wildlife corridor, Ollenberger said for the first time the municipal government is in the same room as the province, which has the final approval of where it will be located.
“We are hoping that by having those discussions at the same time in the same room, all viewpoints will be put forward,” he said.
