Town, County Approve Updated Intermunicipal Development Plan

The Town and County of Stettler councils have approved an updated intermunicipal development plan following a public hearing at the Community Hall on Monday night.

The plan will guide land-use decisions over the next 50 years, setting out policies for utility planning, annexation & infrastructure coordination.

The document also establishes policies for stormwater management, road use agreements and intermunicipal parks and pathways.

Confined Feeding Operations

One change noted in the plan concerned cattle operations near the Town of Stettler boundary. The confined feeding operation exclusion zone is being moved from the intermunicipal plan into the county’s municipal development plan. 

County staff can now provide input on odor & noise concerns from cattle operations to the Natural Resources Conservation Board, which sets approvals on these operations.

Four additional quarter sections, two northeast of town & two to the southwest were added to the exclusion zone.

Airport, Utilities & Energy Projects

The updated plan notes that development of the Stettler Airport must align with county planning bylaws. The airport is located in the county but is operated by the town. 

The town and county will also coordinate responses to applications before the Alberta Utilities Commission & the Alberta Energy Regulator on power generation or oil & gas facilities projects in the plan area.

Annexation Policies

The IDP states that lands designated as future residential or mixed business may only be considered for annexation by the town. 

Any annexation notice must be kept confidential until both municipalities agree it can be presented publicly.

Finally, at least five years must pass between annexations unless otherwise agreed.

Public Concerns

Concerns were raised by residents at the hearing, including fears that farmland within the plan would face higher taxes or be forced out of agricultural production.

Planning staff responded that existing agricultural operations may continue until land is converted to another use, and that tax assessments are based on current land use.

Objections were also raised to the designation of a parcel northwest of town (NW 9-39-19-4) as county mixed business, with residents citing potential industrial development. Staff defended the designation, pointing to highway & rail access.

Background

The two municipalities began work on the new plan in 2020 after receiving a $200,000 provincial grant. 

Public engagement took place over four rounds between 2020 and 2022 before the process was paused to finalize a water and wastewater agreement.

The new plan now replaces the 2009 IDP & repeals the Southeast Area Structure Plan.