Future projects and collaboration between the MD of Bighorn and Town of Canmore likely wont be affected despite the neighbouring municipalities being locked in a government-intervened dispute.
According to both of the municipalities’ chief administrative officers, the communities are open to future beneficial projects.
In late June, Canmore and the MD were in front of the Municipal Government Board (MGB) for the long-awaited hearing of the controversial Dead Man’s Flats Area Structure Plan.
The hearing is still technically open in case further information is needed by the MGB, and the MD thinks the earliest a decision could be made is in two months.
“This is not the first dispute that’s arisen between our two municipalities (and, from what I understand, may not have been the first where an approach to a regulatory appeal body was initiated), nor will it be the last,” wrote Martin Buckley, MD CAO, in an email. “But as long as we can work together and discuss issues before going the ‘legal solution’ route, I think both municipalities will get along fine, overall.”
The ASP would see development of approximately 29 hectares in the north and east areas (recreation and light-commercial) of the MD hamlet.
The east area is adjacent to the G8 wildlife underpass.
A concern and a major focus on wildlife and the wildlife underpass, among others, caused Canmore to appeal the ASP to the MGB.
The MD and its experts, think wildlife movements can be mitigated in the area by using fencing to direct wildlife away, while the Town, and other wildlife experts, disagreed with the idea.
Canmore’s request to mediate with the MD on the subject was declined in November 2015, as the MD cited the Town never provided a “clear indication” of what issue would be mediated.
It forced Canmore to play its hand and call for government intervention.
“The appeal was something we entered not lightly,” said Lisa de Soto, Canmore CAO. “(The Town was) upset that the MD didn’t enter into meditation. We thought that a solution could have been made.”
But despite a third party being called in to overlook and ultimately make a decision on the dispute, de Soto hopes relations aren’t smeared in the process.
“Whatever the MGB decides, we’ll continue to work with the MD as the new MGA introduces the new integrated development plan,” de Soto said.
A key focus in the proposed MGA is for Alberta towns to be required to have inter-municipal collaboration frameworks to address issues like growth and services regionally.
The two municipalities have arrangements in place for services such as the fire department and police in the MD.
In the dispute, Stoney Nakoda First Nations, Three Sisters Mountain Village and Thunderstone Quarries were granted affected party status for the appeal hearing.
Chris Ollenberger, QuantumPlace managing principal, speaking on behalf of TSMV and Thunderstone, said they have “no dog in this fight,” and wants to see a functional wildlife underpass.
He supported the MD’s wildlife fencing idea.
“We didn’t want to see a detrimental impact that would render (the underpass) useless, but we didn’t see any evidence of that as well,” said Ollenberger.
“There’s a lot going on by that G8 underpass: There’s an operating quarry and gun range, and the wildlife corridor, and an old gravel pit. None of it is pristine land that’s un-impacted.”
