Special Areas Board

This Intermunicipal Development Plan establishes a long-range collaborative approach for future land use along the shared border of the Town of Drumheller and Special Area No. 2. It aims to ensure sustainable development, coordinate land use decisions, and minimize conflicts by addressing areas such as land use, growth management, agriculture, infrastructure, natural environment, historic resources, resource extraction, energy development, transportation, and telecommunication. The plan also outlines processes for communication, implementation, administration, and dispute resolution to provide certainty for landowners.

The meeting included advisory council reports on medical and dental boards, economic partnerships, infrastructure management, agriculture service, applied research, municipal services, special areas board reports on municipal elections, partnerships, regional medical projects, irrigation, TRLS, resident satisfaction survey, financial status, audit, cash position, arrears collection, assets, reserves, revenue, expenses, assessment, deficit and surplus, road projects, highway improvements, water services, emergency services, enforcement, parks, facilities management, lease rental rates, land use order, Sheerness Industrial Park, and the Irrigation project. Discussions covered housing shortages, irrigation open houses, Sheerness Industrial Park, Oyen railyard loan payments, financial statements, tax percentages, Cereal industrial tax transfer funding, waste site repairs, highway surfacing, harvest season road work, hamlet improvements, Bigstone fishery, water truck fills, renewable projects, Buffalo Atlee Community Pasture and irrigation pumping costs. Motions were passed regarding waste site maintenance, temporary roll off bins, old vehicles and derelict properties, solar power generating projects, wind tower setbacks, a coyote bounty, and road committee member replacements.

The Special Areas Board held a public hearing to discuss the proposed Advertising Order, which aims to broaden advertising methods, including electronic means, for proposed bylaws, resolutions, meetings, and public hearings. The proposal doesn't prohibit traditional advertising but offers flexibility in using electronic methods. Public feedback was gathered through written submissions and a public hearing, with concerns raised about ensuring continued use of local newspapers for advertising. The Board discussed these concerns and proposed an amendment to require advertising in local newspapers or publications where available. The Board recommended the Minister sign the Advertising Order, including the amendments.

This Intermunicipal Development Plan (IDP) aims to foster collaborative planning and coordination for land use and development along the common border between the Special Areas Board and Wheatland County. It provides a framework for addressing land use concerns, development proposals, and intermunicipal program coordination across areas such as agriculture, resource extraction, renewable energy, transportation, telecommunications, and environmental protection. The plan emphasizes promoting consultation, ensuring orderly and sustainable development, mitigating intermunicipal conflict, and protecting environmentally and historically significant areas, while also establishing procedures for administration, implementation, and dispute resolution.

The Sheerness Industrial Area Structure Plan aims to guide future planning and development for the Sheerness Industrial Park, attracting new industrial investment and generating economic opportunities for the region. Its vision is to support cost-competitive, large-lot industrial development with suitable infrastructure, positioning the park as an economic driver. Key goals include providing clear direction to developers, minimizing environmental impacts, ensuring legislative compliance, outlining logical servicing and phasing strategies, and aligning with the Municipal Development Plan. The plan focuses on developing approximately 320 acres for industrial uses, with detailed policies for water, wastewater, stormwater, transportation, emergency services, and shallow utilities, while emphasizing environmental sensitivity and responsible growth.