Councillor’s Update – Rocky View County – Don Kochan – Jan 2023

Don Kochan – Mayor, Division 2

Hi everyone, the following Division 2 information is for your use:

2023 Budget: Council passed the 2023 operating budget on December 14th. For details of the new initiatives that have been added to the budget please go RVC’s website for the details.

Division 2 – Open House: Division 2 is planning on having an open house to discuss transportation issues that are impacting our community. We are hoping to schedule this open house in May, 2023.

Springbank Community Centre: An Advisory Group have completed the work program to identify the types of facilities to be developed, functional programs for the facilities and associated costs. The facilities are expected to primarily serve residents of Springbank however surrounding areas are also expected to use the programs and services at the facilities. The business case will be available to all community members once the final draft is presented to Council. This will probably occur the early part of 2023.

Springbank Reservoir Land Use Advisory Committee: On the SR1 project, County Administration is still actively participating in the Joint Land Use Advisory Committee alongside Springbank residents and community groups. The Committee is wrapping up its recommendations to the Province on how it would like to see matters relating to ecology, recreation, and land management addressed in the SR1 project. This includes provision of new public access areas and pathways. Once the Committee has concluded its work Alberta Environment and Protected Areas will prepare the draft Land Use Plan for public comment and the County will undertake its own engagement on the plan as directed by Council. I would expect the engagement to take place in the first quarter of 2023.

Costco Application–Administration has been working with Costco on the application and has now received the Costco revised submission focusing principally on improvements to the main warehouse store design and the pedestrian connectivity. The Development team is in the process of reviewing the revised submission to determine if the documents align with all policy and technical requirements.

Springbank Area Structure Plan (ASP): Administration is continuing its work on drafting the new ASP with the feedback outlined in the Engagement Summary being considered against other influences such as the Regional Growth Plan and technical constraints. As required by the Regional Growth Plan, administration has started an Environmental Screening Report to update the previous Wildlife Corridor study. Administration hopes that they will have an initial draft ASP available in January. Administration will present the updated plan to the Springbank community in the New Year. An Engagement Summary Report of the communities’ input can be found on the county web-site. Please visit: www.rockyview.ca/springbank-area-structure-plan

Edgewood Counseling Centre Commercial Court: A second Development Permit application for a full DP, rather than the 3-year term has been refused by RVC’s Development Authority and this decision is being appealed by the applicant. The appeal hearing was held on December 2, 2022 SDAB meeting. The SDAB could uphold the Development Authority’s decision to refuse the application, which would leave the applicant with the existing 3-year term DP that was recently issued. SDAB’s decision is expected to be released the week of December 19th. Currently, the applicant is permitted this use at this location for three years, per the previous SDAB approval.

The applicant has also submitted the land use amendment application to apply to have the required use available in that location. We are not aware of what Administration’s recommendation will be on that application; however, the final decision would be at Council’s discretion. If the refusal is upheld on the second/ replacement DP, and if the land use amendment does not pass, they would have to reapply in 3 years for a renewal DP.

New Virtual Services Available: Just a reminder to take advantage of Rocky View’s online customer service portal my.RockyView.ca. The new portal makes County services, previously only available in-person or by telephone, more accessible and convenient for residents. The new portal requires residents to create an account to access the following county services online: