Kneehill County Municipal Development Plan Presentation Barb Hazelton, Manager of Planning & Development
Ratepayer Consultations February 28, March 28, & April 19, 2017 Surveys in newsletter & website
Notifications as per Section 606 of the MGA Three Hills Capital May 31, June 7, June 14, & June 21, 2017 Website since April
Hierarchy of Plans (Provincial) Municipal Government Act Subdivision & Development Regulation Land Use Policies
Hierarchy of Plans (Municipal) Intermunicipal Development Plan Municipal Development Plan Area Structure Plan Land Use Bylaw Concept Plans Redesignation Subdivision Development Permit Building Permit
What is a Municipal Development Plan? Requirement of the MGA Statutory Plan Highest ranking municipal document Guides future land use & development
What a Municipal Development Plan must address? Future land uses Manner of future development Coordination of land use (future growth patterns & infrastructure) Transportation systems Municipal services
What a Municipal Development Plan must address? Compatible with subdivision & development regulations sour gas Municipal reserves Protection of agriculture operations
Limitations Plans & policies that work toward a desired growth strategy over time (general in nature & long-term in outlook) Areas shown on maps are not an automatic approval of a use Applications must be assessed on a case-by-case basis Achievement of goals are subject to financial capacities & Council consideration
Interpretation Shall & must mandatory Should discretionary (advises compliance) May recommended (best practices)
Amendments to the MDP Any changes require a bylaw amendment Public hearing Approval from Kneehill County Council (through bylaw)
Areas of Interest Agriculture Residential Hamlets Economic Development Environmental/Hazard Lands Parks & Recreation Transportation & Utilities Natural Resources Renewable Energy Growth Management Intermunicipal Planning & Cooperation
Agriculture Preserve agricultural heritage ensuring that it continues to be viable Encourage diversification & innovation in agriculture To permit alternative farming practices Promote agricultural manufacturing Allow large parcel subdivisions for Agriculture business purposes Larger agricultural subdivisions where two or more well-defined existing uses are distinct
Residential Provide a range of residential uses which ensures affordable housing Garden suites Farm cluster housing Creative architecture Employee housing Housing cluster
Hamlets Facilitate appropriate residential & nonresidential development Maintain hamlets as local centres serving the surrounding agricultural communities Ensure developments tie-in to existing water and sewer services where available Through the Land Use Bylaw allow a range of industrial & commercial uses compatible with available infrastructure and residential character of individual hamlets
Economic Development Create opportunities for commercial, agricultural, industrial, and tourism growth Encourage development in identified growth centres & hamlets to maximize infrastructure and servicing Encourage tourism Create employment opportunities for the local population Recognize home based business as viable economic opportunity
Environmental/Hazard Lands Protect & conserve environmentally sensitive lands as defined by the province To mitigate environmental impact by ensuring development meets or exceeds provincial legislated requirements To provide & promote responsible access & use of public areas To protect from subdivision & development lands that are prone to erosion
Parks & Recreation To promote recreational opportunities that are accessible and affordable for residents and non-residents alike Increase quality of life through recreation services Establish a tourism economy
Transportation & Utilities Provide convenient access Prepare long range strategy for: Road construction & maintenance Potable water Hamlet servicing
Natural Resources Recognize extraction of resources as an interim land use To encourage the appropriate utilization of renewable and nonrenewable natural resources To minimize impacts on neighbouring uses
Renewable Energy To encourage the use of alternative energy where feasible To ensure industry shall be responsible for road construction and/or maintenance as a result of resource activity
Growth Management Identified centres where development would be: Logical Advantageous Appropriate Transportation route Servicing This is NOT rezoning This is NOT an automatic yes This would be landowner driven
Growth Management Identify growth centres in strategic locations Variety of opportunities for residents & landowners To accommodate economic growth To accommodate sustainable residential, commercial, industrial, and/or mixed use
Intermunicipal Planning & Cooperation Inter-municipal fringe areas IDPs Planning jointly Protective & emergency services Pursue shared services Transportation systems Coordinate social & recreational facilities
Survey Results
Order of Importance Ranked 1-3 Economic Development = 0 Parks & Recreation = 0 Tourism = 0
Order of Importance Ranked 4-6 Tourism = 0
Sustainability includes all aspects of quality of life including education, health, culture & business. What is Kneehill County s role in facilitating this for future generations? Partner with urbans Develop Ag business Education Job creation Low taxes Hamlet development Farm succession planning Support growth Maintain roads Small business assistance Exchange schooling programs More specialized medical Stay out of it-not County business Transportation assistance (for seniors) Less red tape Ensure opportunities available
What do you see are some of the keys to keeping the next generations in Kneehill County, to remain sustainable? Low taxes Recreation facilities Pro-agriculture Services Rural roads Hamlets Reduce regulations Affordable housing Job creation Succession planning & education Maintain lower costs Encourage new business High speed internet
What kind of agriculture education initiatives could Kneehill County undertake to provide operators and farmers with learning opportunities? Workshops 72% In-house 41% Online 36% Booklets 14% Additional comments None, why would the county teach farmers how to farm? County needs to educate the public, not farmers None, there are more opportunities available than anyone can take Specialized on hand workshops for farmers Youth education for agriculture
Are there key areas where large-scale agricultural processing facilities should be developed? Anywhere as long as infrastructure is feasible 54% Only along highways 50% Close to urban centres (1) 18% Additional comments None, in towns not on Ag land Use common sense
What industries should Kneehill County promote as a way to diversify agriculture? Commercial greenhouses 64% Ag processing 59% Brewery/Distillery 59% Beekeeping 54% Honey processing 54% Agri-tourism 50% Farm gate sales 50% Market gardens 50% Seed cleaning plants 50% Grain elevators 45% Livestock & farm equip 45% Cheese processing 41% Feed mill 41% Meat production 36% Renewable energy 23% Additional comments Facilitate but do not publicize I don t believe you have the knowledge or wisdom to translate into decisions that would affect these industries. It is an extreme stretch or near by abuse of power to view this as your mandate. Stay out of it, leave it to people spending their own money. Keep it local, grow it, process it and use it within the area, then sell the excess Listen to ideas from new residences
How can the impacts of an aging farming population be addressed? Workshops on farm succession 54% More non-traditional agricultural opportunities - 45% Affordable housing 41% Recreation/activity options 36% Larger subdivision options 14% Additional comments Encourage apprentice farmers where young can learn from older ones (maybe buy the farm) It will take care of itself
What are the strengths of Kneehill County s economy? Agriculture 86% Natural resources 68% Lower startup costs due to location 50% Business 41% Potential for new opportunities 27% Tourism & recreation 27% Additional comments Weakness-lack of job opportunities
What are the possible economic development opportunities? Agriculture Industries 77% Small business 72% Non-traditional farming 41% Tourism operations 27% Renewable energy 27% Additional comments Nearly anything is possible when freedoms are preserved. From what motivation are you asking, this is meaningless, they are all possible Greenhouses with organic produce Trade school-a diverse economy weathers economic changes better. Check out new innovations in wind and solar Leave it to people spending their own money
How can the County support and encourage entrepreneurs? High speed internet 68% Tax incentives 59% Small grants for business development 59% Business or industry hubs or zones 45% Business mentorship 36% Business directory 32% Additional comments Tax incentives-only if equal opportunity Why should we be supporting any of this De-regulation, less permits Shrink size & scope of county governance
Identify some of the items, services, and supports you have to go outside Kneehill County to acquire that you would like to see available locally? (* more than one response) Fitness centre Additional health services (Trochu) Tim Hortons, Home Depot/Rona* More car shows Senior housing-long term care MRI & CT scans, etc.** Full ER staffing Clothing boots & shoes (environmentally friendly fabric-bamboo & hemp) Movie theatre Automotive dealership* Grocery variety/competitive pricing Insurance choices Children's clothes Plastic grain bag recycling depot Nothing* Organic produce job
What type of commercial & industrial uses should be promoted in the County? Anything that provides tax dollars Only socially responsible business Renewable energy Canola crushing facility Beef processing facility Movie theatre Tim Hortons Any small business able to support itself Manufacturing Dairy, cheese store Organic produce Year round agriculture (fish, veggies, hemp) Plastic recycling (make building blocks) Ag services Oilfield Medical Stay out of it, let business decide Anything to provide employment Recycle multiple areas (make easy for everybody-no cars)
Should the County encourage affordable housing? How? Yes 59% No 41% Additional comments Why would the county be involved Not in hamlets County should not be in housing Yes but energy efficient Affordable subdivision & permitting Seniors facilities 65+ Capping rents Nice affordable multi-family Senior s co-op/communal Need to obtain more business & generate more tax revenue first Reduce cost & time to deal with planning. Leave people alone Less red tape & regulations Watch true fixed income of people, not guessing
What kind of partnerships could be developed to promote agriculture within the County? AB Beef, AB Lamb, AB Pork, AB Chicken Partner with Olds College Farmer co-operatives Ag society s* Retail outlets & meat processing Seminars Utilize Ag business within the county agronomists, dealers, fertilizer, chemical On farm retail for fruits & berries Additional comments None, Government partnerships with individuals is poor for business Let groups do this on their own Hard to say due to volunteering (expensive)
What new recreational or cultural activities would you like to see within the County? Similar to Badland facility (couple courts, walking & running track) Ball diamonds Fishing holes Skate boarding Skeet shooting Rodeos Additional comments None, keeps taxes low We have enough Maintain the present Financial support for current facilities Make local minor sports more Better road to Dry Island Buffalo Jump Dancing Walking clubs Community garden Equine centre Drag Races More outdoor activities affordable Only those people develop on their own There are opportunities for recreation in our County
What recreation activities and/or facilities do you and your family use most frequently? Community Centres 71% Swimming Pool 52% Campgrounds 45% Parks 45% Ball diamonds 43% Golfing 43% Arena 38% Curling 33% Bowling 24% Canoeing 19% Museums 19% Additional activities Canada day parade Car show Comments: Hunting - Make community centres affordable to rent Fishing instead of being empty due to ridiculous rates Senior centre - Can t afford most venues
Should the County be involved in providing recreational facilities? Yes 75% No 25% Additional comments Partner with towns Responsibility of provincial government Partially if people do not bear some of the cost they will not respect or value the infrastructure or benefits No-government almost always get it wrong Fix our roads with the money Help maintain current Keeps folks here Good stewardship with money Within reasonable budget Cost is too high for small groups
Kneehill County collaborates with its neighbours to provide many of the following services. What are the services that you would like to see enhanced, extended or made more widely available? Internet 62% Fire 43% Solid Waste Collection 33% Municipal Water 29% Additional comments Better hospital services (MRI, CT scans) Would like drinkable water in Wimborne All are provided at a more than adequate level
How should the County strike a balance between protecting the environmental and agricultural areas? Minimum setback distances between agriculture and sensitive areas 66% Minimum setback distances between development and sensitive areas 66% Require buffer zones 22% More environmental reserves taken 11% Additional comments Need to consider who maintains Balance is fine, respect landowner rights
Is there County related communications/ information that you require that is difficult to find? Property assessments online No already have a good website Not everybody has Facebook (snowplowing) Red Deer River water levels and quality What is your preferred method to receive information? Mail 62% Email 52% Website 29% Social media 19%
Additional comments Apply bylaws to clean up farm sites that have derelict vehicles. Becoming a real eye sore for the County The county is doing a good job. Stay the course and use common sense I disagree strongly with the county's interpretation of its mandate. Taking great liberties in creating initiatives to 'remain sustainable'. Using public funds to compete with its own ratepayers, asking what services should be enhanced and extended is ridiculous given the options you provide. Roads, water and solid waste are not in the same category as internet or even fire. Roads are integral and their condition has been in steady decline. Maintain!
Additional comments Re: aging farm population. Without the family money supporting a young farmer, young people are unable to get into farming, that s not a county issue Put a halt to airplane spraying of crops, it is poisonous I choose to live in this county as it provides affordable living with an acceptable amount of essential services and recreation. The County needs to continue to upgrade and promote current hamlets, villages and their facilities to keep current residents and attract others 1-2 day spay/neuter clinic for barn/farm cats
Additional comments Although we have not lived in this county long, we are impressed with the forward-looking attitude it appears to adopt. Bigger isn t necessarily better. "Cottage industries" and jobs requiring people rather than machines are the way to a sustainable economy This looks like every other socialist government push survey. How can we spend more of your money, how can we interfere more in your life. How can we grow the size of government? Thank you for taking time to read this survey hope it aids in an even stronger, healthy already good county Health Facilities get an A plus, Good newsletters as well
Written Submissions In Favour In Opposition David & Connie Swanson Additional Written Comments Wendy Clark Mountain View County Red Deer County Rocky View County Village of Acme