By Curtis Galbraith

City appealing County development plan approval

Aug 16, 2018 | 5:30 AM

City Council has decided to appeal the County’s approval of its Correction Line West Area Structure Plan to the province.
 
Mayor Bill Given says this plan goes against the Intermunicipal Development Plan agreed to by both municipalities.
 
“In the Intermunicipal Development Plan that was the thing that set the table for annexation between the City and County, it was agreed that the area that the Correction Line Area Structure Plan is in would have some development restrictions on it that would leave it relatively unencumbered for future city growth.”
 
CAO Bill Rogan says the County does not agree.
 
“There are provisions in the IDP to consider growth within the area as long as it meets certain criteria in the County in the long-range annexation area.”
 
Given adds council is still hopeful the two can work something out themselves. He says this is the first plan the County has approved in the City’s long-term growth area.
 
“At some level, this may also be a precedent-setting item and that’s why it’s important for the City and County to have a clear interpretation of the IDP.”
 
Rogan says going to a hearing before the Municipal Government Board would be a tough process.
 
“It can be a drawn-out affair and, obviously, it’s not inexpensive. You will be bringing legal representation into it, planning experts will need to be brought in from outside, I expect.”
 
The two were able to work out a settlement after some disagreement over the city’s plans for land around Hughes Lake, located west of the airport. That came about even after mediation failed to settle things.