Kevin Hanson – Division 1
Quick Bits
At this time, I have no additional information about the Highway 8 cleanup project. Master Rates adjustments for the 2024 tax year were approved, with the exception of Utilities Rate Increases. Council chose not to increase rates by 5%, in favour of having more time to understand what the increase should be as we move towards full cost recovery – a 3-year journey.
Springbank Off-stream Reservoir Land Use Plan
The County was a participant in the Province’s SR-1 Land Use Stakeholder committee, alongside a number of Community Organizations. The project is now at the stage where feedback on the draft plan is being sought by the Province.
The County’s response letter identifies several areas of concern within and around the SR1 Lands. These concerns include:
- Clearer policies to support the greatest amount of safe public access.
- Clarification on the connections into the SR1 lands.
- Details on the plans for the ‘South Lands’ and Kamp Kiwanis Lands.
- Explore seasonal grazing permits as the primary method for vegetation control.
- Include Rocky View County in the development of the SR1 Operations Plan and ongoing monitoring and adaptive management.
The letter incorporated feedback we heard from the Community, so thank you for all the engagement efforts.
Bragg Creek ASP Terms of Reference Approval
Rocky View County recently received the excellent news that the Province awarded us $200,000, the maximum NRED grant amount, for use towards bolstering the scope of the planning work for the Bragg Creek ASP update project. The Northern and Regional Economic Development (NRED) Program funds initiatives for municipalities that promote regional economic development and diversification. In this case, the grant will be used to support non-technical studies that will facilitate economic development forecasting and programming that would support development in Bragg Creek.
Enhanced Studies (based on NRED grant)
- Natural Asset Inventory
- Development Suitability Analysis
- Social and Community
- Needs Assessment
- Economic Impact Analysis
- Specialized Sectorial Research
- Fiscal Impact Study
The updated ASP will guide future development within the Hamlet Growth Area in accordance with the Calgary Metropolitan Region Growth Plan (RGP) and Municipal Development Plan (County Plan). Work is expected to be completed by fall of 2025. The first phase of the project will be guided by the recommendations of a Visioning Committee. This is a new practice for Rocky View County, and one I believe will have a marked impact on the final ASP quality, and responsible and manageable growth.
Bragg Creek Seniors
Council resolved to send a letter of support for the Rocky View Foundation’s grant application to the Canada Mortgage and Housing Seed Funding program. This program provides financial support for individuals or organizations involved in the initial phases of creating an affordable housing project. A maximum of $150,000 of non-repayable contributions to assist with early development expenses can be applied for. Expenses includes the formulation of a business plan, creation of preliminary design concepts, and conducting environmental site assessments.
The application will help fund updating the 2015 Housing Needs Assessment, site-specific technical studies and the early design work required for submission to Rocky View County as part of the process for land use redesignation. This is all for the parcel the Foundation owns in the hamlet that was donated by Dick Koetsier for a seniors’ facility. It was never zoned for that end use and changing it will give the Foundation the correct zoning to build affordable housing for seniors.
Contact: KRHanson@RockyView.ca or call 403.463.1166.
