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GOVERNMENT: Alberta to improve land-use planning and decision-making process
        (AlbertaIndex, May 27, Tuesday) --- The Alberta government has released a draft framework to improve land-use planning and decision-making in Alberta following 18 months of consultation with stakeholders and the public.

The Draft Land-use Framework proposes six key strategies to improve land-use decision-making in Alberta.

•    Establish six new land-use regions with a requirement to develop regional plans for each.
•    Establish a new Cabinet committee to oversee regional plan development, supported by a Land-use Secretariat. Regional Advisory Councils will be established for each region. The members of these councils will include provincial, municipal, industry, non-government, and aboriginal representatives, as well as other relevant planning bodies within the region.
•    Use a cumulative effects approach at the regional level to manage the impacts of development on air, land, water and biodiversity.
•    Develop new policy tools for conservation and stewardship on private and public lands.
•    Establish an information, monitoring and reporting system to support planning and decision-making.
•    Include Aboriginal Peoples in land-use planning.

The Alberta government has promised to develop a transportation and utility corridors strategy, plan for parks to conserve and protect the diversity of the province’s land base, reduce the fragmentation and conversion of agricultural land, better manage recreational use pressures on public lands and minimize exposure of developments and settlements to flood risk, and review the process for identifying major surface concerns prior to public offering of Crown mineral rights.

“Albertans have asked for a planning framework that better balances our environmental, social and economic needs and provides greater certainty for decision-makers,” said Ted Morton, Sustainable Resource Development Minister.

“The Draft Land-use Framework does this. It provides a strategic blueprint for all levels of government and Albertans as we make decisions today about the province we want in the future.”

“The purpose of the framework is to manage growth-not stop it. It promotes responsible growth, a future with plentiful opportunities and a healthy environment.

“The draft framework proposes better tools, processes and resources to make the right decisions. At the same time, it respects personal property rights and the decision-making authority of local governments.”

The government also identified four immediate planning priorities: the completion and implementation of metropolitan plans for the Capital and Calgary regions; and the completion of the Southern Alberta Regional Plan and the Northeast Alberta Regional Plan.

In addition, stakeholders have noted that clear provincial policy is important to address ongoing challenges.

With the release of the draft framework, the government will consult with stakeholders and discuss how to move forward with implementation. Work has already started on the immediate planning priorities, and government officials have begun to identify the legislation, regulations and policies needed to implement the framework.



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