overview
The future prosperity of the Capital Region will depend, to a significant extent, on its ability to compete with other leading regions in offering the best mix of economic opportunity and lifestyle amenities to attract and retain its most valuable resource, its people. The Capital Region Land Use Plan’s primary purpose is to manage sustainable growth that protects the Region’s environment and resources, minimizes the regional development footprint, strengthens communities, increases transportation choice and supports economic development.
The Capital Region Land Use Plan aims to accomplish these objectives through an integrated and strategic approach to planning which coordinates planning and development decisions in the Region and identifies a regional development pattern to complement existing infrastructure, services and land uses.
A Strategic Principle was adopted to guide decisions in the creation of the Land Use Plan:
Building on our strengths and what we already have, new growth and development in the Capital Region shall optimize the priorities of environment, community, services, economy, transit and management.
The Strategic Principle led to the development of six Core Principles that guided the preparation of the Land Use Plan:
-
- Preserve and protect the environment
- Preserve agricultural lands
- Protect natural resources
- Minimize the impact of development on regional watersheds and airsheds
- Minimize the impact of heavy industrial developments.
-
- Identify, protect, and prioritize lands for regional infrastructure
- Concentrate new growth within Priority Growth Areas
- Allow growth outside of Priority Growth Areas
- Support expansion of medium and higher density residential housing forms
- Support cluster country residential development
-
- Create inclusive communities
- Support healthy communities
- Support public transit
- Support innovative and affordable housing options
-
- Integrate transportation systems with land use
- Support the expansion of transit services in various forms
-
- Design integrated physical infrastructure within the region
- Maximize utilization of existing infrastructure
-
- Ensure a supply of land to sustain a variety of economic development activities
- Attract and retain individuals and families with a diverse range of skills to the Capital Region to satisfy the region’s economic development goals
- Support regional prosperity
- Position the Capital Region competitively on the world stage
Current Priorities
Review administration of the Regional Evaluation Framework (REF)
- The REF is the primary implementation tool of the Growth Plan. Member Municipalities are required to submit proposed Statutory Plans and amendments to the Board to confirm consistency with the Growth Plan. The administration of the REF is being reviewed to optimize the effectiveness and efficiency of the processing of submissions.
Develop Land Use Plan +5 year Review Process
- The Growth Plan is subject to a 5 year review. A review process is being prepared to determine the amount of time and resources necessary to successfully update the Land Use Plan by 2015.
GIS Pilot Project
- The focus of a GIS Pilot Project was the preparation of a subset of spatial data needed to support a Growth Plan update with an emphasis on Land Use Plan. Now complete, The Capital Region Geographic Information Services (CRGIS) website is the first regional shared spatial database, and now a platform and planning resource to create greater understanding of the effects of regional decisions on balancing the environmental, economic and social well being of the Region.
Future Projects and Initiatives
The Land Use Committee has identified the following future projects and initiatives to address regional land use issues:
Integrated Intermunicipal Planning Framework
- Develop an integrated regional planning framework that supports intermunicipal planning through the implementation of the policies and principles of the Capital Region Land Use Plan.
Regional Energy Corridors Study
- Undertake a regional energy corridors (pipeline and power) study.
Regional Infrastructure Corridors Study
- Undertake a regional infrastructure needs and future corridors study.
Regional Recreation Corridors Study
- Prepare a Terms of Reference to develop the Capital Region’s recreation corridors and policies to align with the CRGP Land Use Principles and Policies.
Implementation of REF Administration Report Recommendations
- Implement the recommendations that arise from the Review REF Administration Report.
Approved Plans
+ Reports
Plans
- Appendix 2: Land Use Plan
- October 2009 Addendum
- December 2009 Addendum
- Integrated Regional Transportation System Study (IRTSS) – Approved July 2011
This study assesses alternative regional roadway network configurations and documents the strengths and weaknesses of these alternatives relative to regional objectives as set out in the Capital Region Growth Plan. - Integrated Regional Transportation Master Plan (IRTMP) – Approved September 2011
A policy framework for the implementing a preferred regional roadway network recommended by the IRTSS Study and provides the essential link between land use and transportation within the Capital Region Growth Plan.
Reports
CRB 2015 Transportation Priorities
2014 CRB Transportation Priorities
Regional Maps
Applying the Land Use Principles and Policies of the Growth Plan requires an understanding of the regional development pattern and the location of existing infrastructure, services and land uses. The following Regional MAps have been included in the Growth Plan and Addenda to support member municipalities and stakeholders to implement the Plan.
- Agricultural Lands Map (pdf)
- Environmentally Sensitive Areas Map (pdf)
- Priority Growth Areas and Cluster Country Residential Areas Map (pdf)
- Integration of Key Transportation Modes with PGAs & CCRAs Map (pdf)
- Regional Buffer Areas Map (pdf)
- Regional Transportation Infrastructure Map (pdf)
- Regional Water and Wastewater Infrastructure Map (pdf)
- Regional Power Infrastructure Map (pdf)
- Regional Corridors Map (pdf)
Implementation Tools—
Municipal Planning Toolkit
The Planning Toolkit is a guide to aid Capital Region member municipalities and stakeholders with the implementation of the Capital Region Growth Plan. It includes information about:
- the land use planning framework;
- submitting Regional Evaluation Framework (REF) applications; and
- planning for growth within Priority Growth Areas (PGAs), Cluster Country Residential Areas (CCRAs) and the balance of the Region.
The Toolkit was developed to help member municipalities and stakeholders navigate the regional planning process by:
- providing the information necessary to implement the Land Use Policies and Principles of the Growth Plan consistently at the local level through municipal planning processes across the Capital Region; and
- assisting in knowing how and when Regional Evaluation Framework (REF) applications are required and what information is required for an application.
Ultimately, the desired result is the consistent interpretation and application of the Land Use Principles and Policies of the Growth Plan, and strong regional cooperation and collaboration.
CONTENTS
The Toolkit consists of a number of modules and fact sheets making it easier for municipal users and stakeholders to find and reference the specific information when it is needed.
Fact Sheets
Modules
- Understanding the Land Use Planning Framework
- About the Regional Evaluation Framework (REF)
- Implementation Guidelines for Priority Growth Areas (PGAs)
- Implementation Guidelines for Cluster Country Residential Areas (CCRAs)
- Implementation Guidelines for Growth Areas Outside Priority Growth Areas (PGAs) and Cluster Country Residential Areas (CCRAs)
contact
Neal Sarnecki, Manager Regional Projects
Phone: 780.638.6003
Email: nsarnecki@capitalregionboard.ab.ca