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1. What is an Intermunicipal Development Plan (IDP)?
The IDP is a statutory plan, in this case jointly developed and adopted by Red Deer County and The City of Red Deer. This plan provides for land-use planning cooperation between municipalities, particularly with respect to a number of key planning issues, as well as policy direction, to deal with subdivision and development in the fringe area.
The goals of the IDP are to improve communication, cooperation, and orderly development between municipalities within a planning area; to provide for future growth areas; and to allow development without impeding the growth plans of another.
The previous Red Deer County and City of Red Deer IDP, adopted in 1999, deals in a long-term planning horizon of 15 to 20 years. Updating this document to the current IDP provided for a much longer term planning horizon, in the neighbourhood of 45 to 75 years, creating increased certainty, substance, and direction for both municipalities as they grow.
2. What was the process for adopting the current IDP?
Over the past several years, Red Deer County and The City of Red Deer have been engaged in long-term planning for the Red Deer region. In early 2007, with direction from the City/County Intermunicipal Affairs Committee*, City and County planning staff began working on an Intermunicipal Development Plan (IDP) to address the areas around the city of Red Deer.
In February of that year, planning staff from both municipalities presented their Councils with recommendations for the basis of an IDP. In mid-March, two days of facilitated planning with both Councils took place, and the result was an agreement on a framework for the IDP.
This was the first step in a multi-step process. The second step in this process was the development of a proposed IDP using the approved framework. On June 5, 2007, the IDP was presented to both Red Deer City Council and Red Deer County Council for first reading. Public consultation and a joint public hearing followed first reading, and on July 6, 2007, the IDP was adopted by both Councils.
*The Intermunicipal Affairs Committee is comprised of The City of Red Deer Mayor, City Manager, and two City Councillors, as well as Red Deer County Reeve, County Manager, and two County Councillors.
3. What are some of the highlights of the IDP?
The following are detailed in the IDP:
- The City will have identified growth areas to allow for future annexations.
- Gasoline Alley will remain as a County growth area with a defined boundary and approximate population of 8,000. Gasoline Alley will be a unique growth area and will include some office development.
- The area north of the airport will be identified as an agricultural area and open space where no other development will occur. As well, The City will design a soft edge to urban development to serve as a buffer or transition between urban and rural development.
- Joint work and further study will commence on annexation compensation and the achievement of higher densities.
- Both municipalities are committed to open and effective communications.
- Although each municipality will make its own land-use decisions within its growth areas, future planning will be a cooperative effort.
- Preceding annexation of land, any subdivision and development proposals in The City’s growth area will require cooperation from both municipalities.
Each municipality will:
- Pay for their own transportation infrastructure;
- Cooperate on the planning and development of infrastructure; and
- Cooperate on preserving the natural systems, including sensitive eco-systems, hazard lands, cultural heritage areas, and natural areas.
A joint strategy will be developed to enhance the entryways along the Queen Elizabeth II (QE2) Highway within the IDP boundary. This will provide a striking access point to the Red Deer region.
The IDP includes an annual review and renewal process, with revisions occurring when appropriate. It includes an expiry date of 10 years and can be renegotiated at any time.
4. What are the plans for Gasoline Alley?
The IDP indicates that Gasoline Alley will remain as a County growth area with a developed population of approximately 8,000 people. Discussions will be held between The City and County on the development type, scale, and size of Gasoline Alley developments.
5. How will various stakeholders throughout the region benefit from this type of collaborative planning?
Red Deer County and The City of Red Deer have more in common than just geography, demographics, social structure, and economic base. The two municipalities also share a boundary and are impacted by each other’s planning and land-use decisions. Developing a joint plan that looks at long-term future land-use patterns, the potential for regional servicing, and plans for large-scale annexations will provide certainty to both municipalities and the region.
This long-term certainty will offer increased assurance to citizens, the business community, and service institutions as they consider their location plans for development in Central Alberta. This initiative will ensure the municipalities are well-positioned to continue to share in the robust economic growth Alberta is experiencing, and move toward a more successful and sustainable economic, environmental, and social growth.
Working together allows both municipalities the ability to better concentrate their resources on planning for and managing growth. This is a tremendously ambitious undertaking for both municipalities, but the current collaborative working relationship will help create a long-term vision for these municipalities that supports the region.
6. What is the rationale for The City’s growth areas as defined in the agreement?
Alberta’s dynamic economy is causing Red Deer and the region to grow. It is important to plan now for the future to provide clarity and certainty for growth in both municipalities. In the fall of 2006, The City published revised population projections estimating Red Deer could grow to between 136,000 and 185,000 people in the next 25 years. Using this information, The City estimates that Red Deer could reach a population of 300,000 in 45 to 75 years from now.
The Future Directions: Red Deer at 300,000 Growth Strategy identified this population as a realistic population to plan for in the City of Red Deer. The Growth Strategy planned for this population and the land use required to accommodate it. The City growth areas outlined in the IDP are reflective of the requirements outlined in the Growth Strategy and should accommodate more than 300,000 people.
7. What is annexation and how does it affect landowners within The City’s identified growth areas? Does this mean annexation of the whole growth area to The City immediately?
The IDP identifies growth areas for both The City and County. Although the IDP is not an annexation proposal, it outlines a growth area The City will endeavour to annex over time.
Annexation is a shift of municipal boundaries – that is, the municipal jurisdictions of an area of land transfer from one municipality to another municipality. Annexation does not involve a change in land ownership, simply a change in municipal jurisdiction.
In terms of The City of Red Deer, annexation would involve changing the official border of the city to accommodate its growth. This means that some areas located within County jurisdiction would be brought under City jurisdiction.
8. How did The City and the County consult with the public on the IDP?
As the development of an IDP is a statutory process, there were many opportunities for public input, including open houses and a joint public hearing. The City and County made public input and discussions a priority throughout this process.
9. Will the IDP help minimize the potential for conflicts between the two municipalities?
The intent of the IDP is to work toward solidifying future growth patterns for both municipalities, while allowing each other to concentrate resources on planning for and managing growth. The identification of these long-term growth areas for each municipality creates clarity, thereby reducing the possibilities of conflict.
As part of the IDP, a process has been outlined to open the channels of communication between the two municipalities in a way that is less adversarial than the current process. Part of this communication includes a joint yearly review and renewal process that allows for both municipalities to agree on amendments if they are required.
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