The Conrich Area Structure Plan (ASP) has been in the works for months now but planners have not been successful in obtaining the support of neighbouring municipalities such as Chestermere and Calgary.
A public hearing was held on May 12, 2015 at the Rocky View County (RVC) Municipal Building and lasted over a staggering 12 hours. During the hearing, RVC Councillors heard from dozens of groups both for and against the ASP.
Chestermere’s Mayor Matthews and councillors attended the public hearing and had the opportunity to speak against the proposal.
“Chestermere had hoped to shine some light on our serious concerns about the Conrich ASP when we attended the Rocky View County Public Hearing. We will have to wait now to see what Council’s decision will be on this plan,” stated Mayor Matthews.
In total, 14 municipalities were represented through the Calgary Regional Partnership’s statement of opposition due to a lack of Regional planning in the ASP, specifically relating to transportation (Calgary concerns) and the glut of industrial /commercial along Hwy 1 and Chestermere’s borders.
Irricana, Airdrie, Strathmore and Okotoks had elected members in attendance. 7 Calgary Councillors were at the public hearing and almost the entirety of Chestermere Council (6) as well as staff from both municipalities.
According to the ASP, this plan will provide a vision of the residential and business community over the next 10 years, and a roadmap for growth that will achieve the vision. The study area encompasses 58 quarter sections for a total of about 3,755 hectares (9,280 acres).
The ASP is intended to replace the former Calgary-Chestermere Corridor Plan, which according to RVC planners, is outdated and only applicable to the northern portion of the study area. The new ASP will be aligned with the County’s direction for the development of a hamlet and regional business centre.
RVC planners responsible for the Conrich ASP says the plan has 3 key elements. The first is to development of the Hamlet of Conrich as a complete community, the second is to create a regional business Centre and finally to introduce the integration of residential and businesses in a manner that mitigates impacts on residential areas.
Mayor Matthews says that the cost of servicing this area which will hold enough residents to form a city (10,000 people) is very large, never mind the fact that Rocky View doesn’t have enough services to provide to the entirety of the plan right now is a concern to everyone in the region because of the duplication of services.
“The lack of answers around storm water, transportation routes and agricultural protection could present detrimental effects on our community if this plan moves forward as is,” says Matthews.
Grant Kaiser is the Manager of Communication Services and Corporate Services for Rocky View County and he says that the public hearing and request for First Reading was tabled on May 12.
“County Council heard from all residents and interest parties, both for and against the Conrich Area Structure Plan. It was near 11 p.m. by that time, so Council voted to table the matter to a future meeting,” stated Kaiser who then added, “At that time, Council will hear the rebuttal to those who spoke against the plan, then Councillors will ask their own questions and make their own comments before voting.”
