Cochrane will begin a major undertaking this spring with the first stages of a comprehensive Land Use Bylaw (LUB) review and rewrite.
The bylaw is the town’s biggest tool to control and regulate all development and land uses within the Town of Cochrane.
Senior planner Riley Welden is taking the reins on project oversight, having been seconded from his regular planning role. The total budget for the project is $251,000 and full implementation is estimated to take place in two years.
“We will be tearing it down and building it back up,” explained Welden, answering Mayor Jeff Genung’s question that the undertaking is meant to be a front-to-back review.
Welden said that while there are “many good things” about the current LUB, its antiquity of the 2004 document is showing – given that since its inception, there have been 98 amendments – 51 of which have taken place since 2014.
Coun. Tara McFadden said she felt public engagement was essential – given the likelihood that many residents may not even understand what the LUB is and how it impacts their daily life.
Coun. Susan Flowers was also anxious to see the town look to public buy-in.
Welden said there would be ample opportunities for public engagement – the phase that would be ramping up this month with the help of the town’s communication department.
Coun. Morgan Nagel was satisfied with the confirmation his two recent motions would be addressed through the LUB review – one to reduce the town’s density targets from their current 8-10 units per acre in an effort to preserve Cochrane’s small-town feel and another to add another zoning designation of Residential Estates (R-E) in order to offer more higher end products with larger lots, in order to prevent those buyers from moving outside of Cochrane.
Coun. Marni Fedeyko was in favour of public engagement sessions in decentralized locations – with the town hosting community-specific sessions.
Coun. Pat Wilson wanted to ensure an open and transparent communications process – with council presented with any problems as the process moves along, rather than at the end.
Cochranites should anticipate public engagement kicking off on letstalkcochrane.ca in the coming weeks.
This phase of engagement will run March through August, with a report to be delivered back to council.
