A new updated inter-municipal development plan for the County of Stettler and Town of Stettler has been adopted by both councils.
Town council made it official when it passed the IDP bylaw (1989-09) Dec. 15 after the council adopted the bylaw (1426-09) at its regular meeting Dec. 9 after public hearings with no public responses.
“I’m glad to see the new IDP bylaw adopted unanimously,’ said county Reeve Earl Marshall.
“Now we can move on to better times in our history and work together with the Town of Stettler.”
“It’s a plan for the town and county to work together and move forward,” said town Mayor Dick Richards.
“It allows us to grow in a planned and structured manner and gives us the ability to plan infrastructure because we know where it’s going to go.”
The plan identifies a designated growth area for the county as well as a short-term and long-term designated growth area for the town, said Johan van der Bank, director of planning and development for the county.
“Continual positive communication between the town and county is the most effective way to maximize the benefits of the plan,” states the IDP based on the memorandum of understanding that was signed in March 2009 in which the town plans to annex six quarter sections of land in agreement with the county.
With growing popularity for residential acreages as an alternative to the town’s higher-density subdivisions, the county growth area provides opportunity for lower-density residential development without imposing incompatible land uses on or fragmenting the designated growth areas for the town.
“The plan also addresses policies to service development in the county growth area with water supply and sewage disposal services for the town.”
About 20 residents attended an information forum Oct. 26 with just a couple of participants asking questions about the plan that sets direction for the next 10 years.
The IDP outlines policies to address long-term servicing, infrastructure development, development constraints, preserving natural areas and other planning issues.
Copies of the draft IDP are available on the websites at www.stettlercounty.ca or www.stettler.net.