Intermunicipal Development Plans

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Strathmore and Wheatland Intermunicipal Collaboration Framework (ICF) and Intermunicipal Development Plan (IDP)

Project Overview

The Town of Strathmore and Wheatland County are working collaboratively to develop an Intermunicipal Development Plan (IDP).  

 The IDP will: 
  • guide future growth and development in the area, and
  • address land use planning issues and opportunities.

The IDP is required through the Municipal Government Act (MGA) between municipalities that share a common boundary. Currently, the Town and County do not have an IDP in place, therefore, to meet MGA requirements these projects have been initiated.  

Project Timeline 

During Phase 5, which will be taking place in June of 2024, we will be completing a second round of community engagement to collect your feedback. This includes a Community Information Session (more info below), and the circulation period required in accordance with the Municipal Government Act. From there, we will move into Phase 6 and will be refining the IDP in Summer 2024, with the intent to adopt an IDP that benefits both municipalities in the Fall of 2024. Adoption of the IDP will be considered at public hearings. A notice for the public hearing will be circulated once the meeting dates have been scheduled.

Draft IDP

The Town and County have prepared a Draft IDP and are excited to share this with you!

The Town of Strathmore and Wheatland County are pleased to share the draft Intermunicipal Development Plan (IDP). The purpose of the draft IDP is to facilitate and sustain long term strategic growth, and to identify joint development opportunities in the IDP plan area (Figure 1: Draft Plan Area). To support this purpose, the draft IDP has been divided into three focus areas:
          (1)        Plan Area: Introduces the reader to the IDP and the current state of the plan area.
          (2)        Plan Policies: Outlines the future growth scenario and policies and development within the plan area.
          (3)        Implementation: Outlines the framework for enacting the IDP policies and administering the plan. 

Previous Engagement

The Town and County have hosted two public information sessions regarding the IDP, both held at the Strathmore Civic Centre.

June 18, 2024, to provide landowners, interested and affected parties, businesses, and the greater community the opportunity to review the draft IDP, ask questions to the project team, and provide feedback for refining and finalizing the plan. Display Boards from the event are available below, and a summary of responses will be available in the coming weeks.

December 13, 2023, to introduce the project and answer any questions the public and interested parties may have. Display Boards from the event and a summary of responses are available below.

Next Steps

The project is nearing Phase 6, with the draft IDP documents nearing completion and being sent to the respective Strathmore and Wheatland Council’s for public hearing and discussion.  First Reading of Bylaw 24-15 is tentatively scheduled for September 4, 2024 and the public hearing is tentatively scheduled for October 2, 2024 at 6:00pm in the Strathmore Municipal Building Council Chambers.  Full details are to be published soon in the Strathmore Times and on the project website.

For more information, contact:  

Vicki Dodge, Project Manager, Town of Strathmore, vicki.dodge@strathmore.ca, 403-814-0702  
Stefan Kunz, Manager of Planning & Development, Wheatland County, stefan.kunz@wheatlandcounty.ca, 403-361-2162 

Media Releases

November 23, 2023
Intermunicipal Collaboration Framework - Town of Strathmore
 
Frequently Asked Questions 
What is an Intermunicipal Collaboration Framework (ICF) and What is an Intermunicipal Development Plan (IDP)? 

ICF

Introduced in 2016 under the Modernized Municipal Government Act (MGA), an Intermunicipal Collaborative Framework (ICF) is a legislated requirement between municipalities who share a common boundary. An Intermunicipal Collaboration Framework is a tool to facilitate cooperation between neighbouring municipalities, and to ensure municipal services are provided to residents efficiently and cost-effectively. 

Under the MGA, an ICF must: 

  • Provide integrated and strategic planning, delivery, and funding of inter-municipal services; 

  • Steward important resources efficiently to provide local services; and 

  • Ensure municipalities contribute funding to services that benefit their residents. 

IDP 

An IDP is a long-term strategic growth plan between two or more municipalities. Municipalities who share a common boundary are required to have an IDP in accordance with the Municipal Government Act (MGA).An IDP provides a coordinated and collaborative land use, servicing, and transportation framework for areas where the municipalities share a joint interest. 

Under the MGA, an IDP must address:  

  • future land uses, 

  • future development proposals, 

  • provision of transportation systems, 

  • environmental matters, 

  • coordination of intermunicipal physical, social, and economic programs, 

  • other matters related to physical, social, or economic development, 

  • conflict resolution procedures, 

  • plan amendment procedures, and 

  • overall plan administration. 
What’s the difference between an IDP and ICF? 
The ICF provides a framework for cost-sharing of services amongst municipalities. The IDP is the plan that fosters a collaborative planning approach for lands along the common border between two municipalities. 
I’m happy with our community today. How will the IDP change things?

The IDP will help to ensure the Town and County maintain the characteristics, vision, and goals unique to each community, while coordinating future growth development patterns. IDPs allow municipalities to: 

  • promote consultation, coordination, and cooperation regarding planning matters of joint interest within a defined planning area; 

  • provide a framework for addressing land use concerns about joint planning matters; 

  • establish a procedure for dealing with development proposals within a defined planning area; and 

  • address any other matters relating to development considered necessary within a joint planning area. 
Does an IDP affect my ability to continue to use my land as I am doing now? 

An IDP is a long-term land use and servicing plan that addresses how the Town and County are to manage their respective future growth needs. As these plans address long-term future land use and development opportunities for these areas, landowners must be involved in the process and provide input on the future use of these lands.  

The future approval of the new IDP will not affect current land use activities or development rights and will not affect your taxes. It only addresses future development over the long term. 

An IDP should not be viewed as an impediment to development. Rather, it reinforces and protects both municipalities’ development philosophies and goals, while mitigating the potential for future conflict. IDPs anticipate that development may occur within the plan area and provide a framework for ensuring that it proceeds in an orderly, economic, efficient, harmonious, and sustainable manner. 

What is the status of the Intermunicipal Collaboration Framework (ICF)?

The draft Intermunicipal Collaboration Framework (ICF) is complete and was prepared by the project team with oversight from the Intermunicipal Collaboration Committee and staff from both municipalities.  

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