Kevin Hanson – Division 1
Quick Bits
I cannot talk about it in any detail, but just to inform Division 1 residents that Westridge Utilities Inc., a private water utility company operating in the Springbank and Elbow Valley areas is involved in several legal proceedings within the Alberta Court of King’s Bench. This includes challenging the recent enforcement order by the County and Westridge’s unsuccessful Enforcement Appeal Board application regarding the maintenance, testing, and inspection of fire hydrants in the Swift Creek Estates subdivision. More information is easily available in the public domain.
Inter-Municipal Regional Pathways
I recently attended an intermunicipal committee meeting with Staff and Councillors from both Rocky View and Calgary. The high-level talks included a discussion of intermunicipal regional pathways. This included connecting Airdrie to Calgary along Nose Creek, and I provided background and context for the Griffin Woods to Clearwater Park connection along and over the Elbow River. Currently there is a notice of motion in front of Calgary Council, with sponsoring Member(s) of Council: Councillor Andrew Yule, Mayor Jeromy Farkas, and Councillor DJ Kelly, scheduled for debate on March 31st. The motion seeks to work with the new “Regional Table” (partner municipalities) and requires a scoping report and recommendations by Q3 2026. Rocky View County participates in this new Regional Table. The end goal is that by working jointly with neighbouring municipalities, it is easier to attract Federal and Provincial funding for such regional infrastructure.
Bragg Creek FireSmart
The committee met March 9th, and there were a number of what I would call “good news” topics covered. This included updates that Council approved an application to seek Provincial grant funding for a study for a potential Fire Guard for the community of Bragg Creek. The agenda and minutes of the meeting should be on the RVC website shortly, in the “Meetings and Hearings” area.
Bookmark your calendars, there will be a FireSmart Community Education Event the evening of April 22nd at the BCCA Community Centre. More details will be available on the RVC and BCCA websites, closer to the meeting date, but should include:
- Presentation of the newly updated Bragg Creek Wildland Fire Mitigation Strategy by forestry management professional Josh Hoddinott.
- Updates on current and upcoming vegetation management projects, Mr. Hoddinott and Steve Hulsman, RVC
- FireSmart practices for local homeowners – John Morris (level 1 FireSmart certified and has completed FireSmart inspections in the community)
- Emergency Management and evacuation planning for Bragg Creek, including emergency alerts via Safe & Sound – Pauli Kruger, RVC
Rocky View Foundation Land Use and Master Site Development Plan
At the March 24th Council Meeting, Council unanimously voted to adopt the “Bragg Creek Affordable Independent Seniors Villa Master Site Development Plan” which provides a policy framework to guide senior housing development within the Bragg Creek Hamlet, and to amend the Greater Bragg Creek Area Structure Plan to include the proposed Master Site Development Plan, which makes it a statutory document.
Council also unanimously approved Rocky View Foundation’s application to redesignate the subject land from Commercial, Local Urban District (C-LUD) to Residential, Multi-Residential Urban District (R-MRU), in order to facilitate the development of a senior housing project comprising a maximum of 32 dwelling units.
The foundation’s next steps are to seek additional grant funding to move towards final designs for the site, now that the project is closer to shovel-ready. The foundation promised to continue to engage with residents as the project moves forward. The hearing is available on the website, for those that wish to watch the 2+ hour proceedings.
2026 Capital Budget Still Work in Progress
Council is still work-shopping with Staff to understand in detail what we need to juggle for short-, mid-, and long- term capital needs for Fire, Recreation, existing Asset Management, and new Infrastructure commitments. As I have mentioned before, Rocky View is at an inflection point, and this is a super-tough decision that Council will need to make as budget is finalized later this spring.
Contact: KRHanson@RockyView.ca or call 403.463.1166.
Free Classifieds