The Calgary Regional Partnership (CRP) has proposed amendments to its Calgary Metropolitan Plan (CMP) in an effort to build upon its relationships with Rocky View County and the M.D. of Foothills.
The mediation, which was provincially mandated, began in March of last year as the final step of a provincial cross-ministry review. It ended in July 2013; the proposed updates to the CMP were announced March 28.
Currently, the CRP boasts a roster of 12 municipalities, including Cochrane.
Rocky View County (RVC) signed on as a partner in 1999, but left the group in 2009 because of a variety of reasons, including high density housing requirements and the City of Calgary’s veto power, said county reeve Margaret Bahcheli.
Consensus was reached on four of the five issues brought to the table during the mediation: density and growth, provision of regional servicing within CRP boundaries, governance and dispute resolution.
“The mediation was an opportunity to clear things up,” said Colleen Shepherd, executive director of the CRP. “For everyone involved, including the region, the plan is the best it’s ever been.
“We’re committed to making these improvements — and these are improvements.”
The parties were unable to agree upon a decision-making — or voting — model. However, all members of the mediation agreed that municipalities should have a voice when land in their jurisdiction is impacted by an amendment to the CMP.
Included in the proposed amendments is a voting model that gives a veto to municipalities whose land is adversely affected by the CMP.
“This is a big concession of goodwill,” said Shepherd. “It’s a big move for both the CRP and the City of Calgary, which has the majority of the region’s population.”
She added the partnership tries to make decisions based on consensus; it’s “rare” for a decision to go through the voting structure.
“It’s great to have a model there if we need it,” she remarked.
“We’re pleased the CRP has taken the recommendations of RVC and the M.D. of Foothills, and are moving forward with them,” said Bahcheli. “This is a big step.
“But we still believe there is room for improvement. A partnership should be a true partnership, where everyone at the table has a voice.”
The current decision-making structure states that a successful vote must contain two-thirds of the CRP’s municipalities, as well as the majority of the region’s population.
Bahcheli said the veto for those “adversely affected” will benefit all of the CRP’s membership.
Despite the updates, Bahcheli said RVC isn’t in a hurry to rejoin the group.
She remarked that the CMP is, at its core, an urban plan and doesn’t necessarily translate well when applied to rural counties like RVC, Wheatland and the M.D. of Foothills.
“As rural participants, when you start talking about urban plans, it gets awkward fast,” she said. “Rural areas are charged with looking after the environment, the watershed, agriculture — we have other obligations. Counties had a hard time folding into an urban plan.”
Bahcheli said the county would continue to work with the CRP, describing the relationship between the two parties as “very good.” At a future date, councillors will discuss and vote on whether the county will rejoin the partnership, she added.
“The CRP values RVC and what they bring to the partnership very much,” said Shepherd. “What the county brings to the region as a whole is very important.”
The proposed amendments will be presented to CRP member councils and the board in May.
More details on the proposed amendments to the CMP can be found at calgaryregionfocus.com.
