Kevin Hanson – Division 1
Quick Bits
Council has been busy on a number of fronts so far this year, not the least of which is Data Centres. To help Council understand this unique sector opportunity, on April 9th our Economic Development folks arranged a site tour of the modest eStruxture 25MW (Mega Watt) facility currently operating at 2/3 build-out in the Balzac commercial area. I was thankful for the opportunity, as although being involved in data and control room design and technology in a past life, this was the first large pure “data centre” I have walked through. The tour involved all the support systems (power supply, cooling, battery backup, fibre connections, full emergency backup diesel generation, etc.). We were not allowed a single glimpse of the current clients’ actual server rooms – they are on full security lockdown 24-7. More to come next month – responsibly developing 400- 900 MW hyper-scale investments…
Business Licenses
RVC Economic Development folks were in Bragg Creek the evening of the April 16th Chamber of Commerce monthly meeting to engage local business owners about a Council initiative for implementing a business license scheme. This initiative is being considered so that RVC is better aware of who our businesses are in the County. Sanja Braak and Aaron Latimer from Rocky View presented the pros and cons of the initiative and a 3rd-party facilitator ran the interactive session. It is excellent to see Aaron once again quarterbacking our Economic Development after a short stint away from the County – his energy and passion for Bragg Creek’s businesses is infectious. RVC has been granting our Chambers some monies each year for the past several years including the local chamber receiving $25,000 annually.
Bragg Creek Area Structure Plan revision – Phase 3 Open House
RVC Planning folks hosted an open house, also on April 16, from 6:30pm to 9:00pm at the Community Centre. Folks showed up early and were participating from 6:20 onward. I was super impressed with the turn-out, it was busy from the get-go and was tapering off by 8:00pm with folks remaining right until 9:00pm to chat with planners. Over 120 people came out, including a couple of residents from Elbow Valley, who spend a lot of time in the hamlet, and the EVRC’s community manager popped in as well.
In addition to covering the ASP project process, the information boards outlined how the revised Area Structure Plan will primarily focus on the Hamlet Growth Area and will build upon the work started for the Bragg Creek Expansion Strategy and guided by the results of the Visioning Committee:
- Community Identity – Maintaining the local character and charm of Bragg Creek while planning for future growth.
- Inclusive Community – Supporting a diverse range of housing, services, and amenities to meet residents’ needs.
- Regenerative Development – Exploring sustainable infrastructure that balances environmental stewardship with economic and residential expansion.
- Sustainable Visitor Economy – Recognizing Bragg Creek’s appeal to tourists while mitigating potential impacts of over-tourism.
- Living with Limits – Respecting the ecological and infrastructural limits of the community to ensure future growth matches the hamlet’s capacity and protects its natural assets.
If you were not able to make the open house, you can still learn and provide feedback via our online engagement portal. The survey is available at engage.rockyview.ca. Either way, it is great opportunity to share feedback, concerns, and priorities directly with the project team.
Later this year, the team will hold a Community Workshop to explore community priorities, challenges, and opportunities in greater depth. It will build on feedback gathered during the initial phases, as well as insights from the Visioning Committee’s work.
The project team will return to the community in the fall of 2025 to present the first draft ASP for further review, validation, and refinement Let’s work together to build a thriving, sustainable future for Bragg Creek which supports our hamlet’s unique character!
Exploring Waste and Wildlife Solutions in Bragg Creek
Rocky View County is working on this collaboratively with Bragg Creek Wild, who brought this topic to Council last year on July 17, 2024. At the ASP Open House, a separate information table was set up by our solid waste staff to engage residents
for feedback on potential bylaw and other community-based solutions. Mason Austen, our manager of Utility Services was in attendance to discuss the topic. The goal is to provide additional community input to RVC on managing waste and reducing wildlife conflicts in and around the hamlet. This survey on waste options is also available at engage.rockyview.ca.
Concerns have been raised about attractants such as unsecured garbage, and one option under consideration is a potential garbage bylaw. Please share your input through the survey. Your feedback will help us better understand community experiences, concerns, and priorities as we explore potential solutions that resonate with the Bragg Creek community.
Contact: KRHanson@RockyView.ca or call 403.463.1166.
