The seeds for the Envision Cochrane 2050 document were planted at Town Council in 2022, and after much debate, wringing of hands, public engagement and consultation, the 159-page document that will form the framework for all development in Cochrane has at last been finalized.
Council voted to adopt “Envision Cochrane 2050 – At Home in the Hills” as the Town’s municipal development plan at a regular meeting March 10. The old municipal development plan, which came into effect in 2008, is no longer in use.
Perhaps only those involved in the daily work of guiding development will appreciate the importance of this milestone, but put simply, it becomes the overarching guiding document for present and future administrators and councils to check to see of they’re on track with what the community wants.
In effect, it becomes a sort of a development ‘bible,’ with descriptions of land use policies, patterns of development, and guiding principles for everything from parks and open spaces to approvals of development permits.
As was pointed out during the discussion, it is a flexible guide, which does not commit Council to any potentially controversial targets for things like densification, for example. Specific population densities can still be adjusted on a neighbourhood-by-neighbourhood basis as development or redevelopment proposals come forward for approval.
In 2022, Council approved a project to replace the current Cochrane Municipal Development Plan (2008) with a new MDP that would better reflect the Town's rapid growth and plan for development over the next 25 years.
O2 Planning + Design (O2) was awarded the contract as lead consultant for the project. The project team also included a number of sub-consultants that contributed to data-collection and analysis for topics such as housing, transportation, regional economics, and civil engineering.
Until recently, the last step in the process before Council voted on it March 10 would have been the endorsement of the Calgary Metropolitan Regional Board (CMRB). That did happen, but it actually became a moot point when the CMRB dissolved recently.
This Plan provides a long-range vision that will guide future development on all private and public lands within Cochrane’s boundaries. All municipalities in Alberta are required to create a municipal development plan under the Province of Alberta’s Municipal Government Act.
As a decision-making tool, a municipal development plan guides Council, administration, developers and members of the public in all planning decisions that impact land use, transportation systems, services and the environment.
The main goals of Envision Cochrane 2050 were established to uphold the five key pillars written in the Cochrane Strategic Plan (2022), namely:
Identity - A commitment to preserving the unique landscape. Envision Cochrane 2050 has numerous objectives and policies to support, maintain and enhance neighbourhoods, downtown, open spaces, and amenities, which gives Cochrane its unique character. Sections of the document that support Identity include Community Design, Parks, Recreation and Natural Areas, and Arts and Culture.
Open Spaces and Natural Areas - A commitment to protecting, nurturing and enjoying the natural landscape. Throughout the public engagement, one of the most frequent comments received was regarding the protection of natural landscapes within and adjacent to Cochrane. Much of the Parks, Recreation and Natural Areas section is dedicated to this topic, and many related policies are also embedded within the Land Use and Community Design sections.
Livability - A commitment to creating a vibrant and active community with connected neighbourhoods. There is a heavy emphasis on creating "complete communities" which means neighbourhoods that include local conveniences and amenities (including shops, parks, schools and other social gathering places). This pillar also refers to the ability to accommodate the housing needs of various ages, abilities and income levels, and would ideally see communities well-connected to other neighbourhoods and to downtown by roads, active transportation and public transit. By this definition, all sections of Envision Cochrane 2050 have objectives and policies that contribute to the topic of Livability.
Vibrant Economy - A commitment to creating an atmosphere where the modern economy can thrive. The entire Economic Vitality section is dedicated to creating a positive business climate. The Growth and Land Use sections also include policies to grow Cochrane's employment land base.
Connectivity - A commitment to bringing people together physically and socially. The Mobility section provides policies and objectives dedicated to the movement of vehicles, pedestrians, cyclists and public transit. The Land Use and Community Design sections also support better connectivity within and between Cochrane's communities. The Parks, Recreation and Natural Areas, Arts and Culture, and Community Safety and Wellbeing sections all provide policy support from a social connectivity perspective.
Public communication and consultation for Envision Cochrane 2050 was extensive, comprising three phases of engagement over a 12-month period. External public engagement received a total of 2,105 responses, representing upwards of approximately 5.6 per cent of Cochrane’s population. A public hearing was held on November 25, 2024.
In the end, Council voted four to two in favour of adopting the new development plan document.
To view the entire document go to cochraneab.civicweb.net.
