Leduc County/Town of Calmar IDP and ICF Review 2023

The Municipal Government Act (MGA) governs municipal planning and development processes in Alberta. The MGA directs how municipalities control land use and development within their boundaries. The MGA requires municipalities that share a common boundary to prepare and adopt matching Intermunicipal Development Plans (IDPs) and to create Intermunicipal Collaboration Frameworks (ICFs).

Intermunicipal Development Plan (IDP)

An IDP is a long range plan prepared by two or more municipalities that identifies the appropriate location for future land uses and provides a planning framework for a specified area of land of mutual interest –typically at the interface between the two municipalities.

In 2019, Leduc County and the Town of Calmar worked collaboratively with input from the community to prepare a comprehensive, mutually beneficial land use plan for long term growth and development while reducing the potential conflict between the two municipalities. The IDP area includes lands in the Town and lands approximately 800 m (1/2 mile) from the Town boundary. The area outside the Town boundary is NOT an area that is proposed to be annexed or rezoned, but rather an area where decisions must be thoughtfully considered and support long-term interests of both municipalities. The IDP area is the interface of our municipalities.

Section 5.6.1 of the IDP states that a review of the IDP should occur every 4 years to ensure that the principles and policies remain current. To comply with this requirement, the Joint Intermunicipal Liaison Committee (comprised of 3 elected officials from each municipality) met on February 24, 2023 to review the IDP. Given the extensive work that was undertaken in preparing the IDP in 2019, only minor revisions primarily housekeeping in nature were endorsed by the Committee for approval by the respective Councils. The revisions are identified on the redlined version of the IDP and include, but are not limited to the following:

• Addition of 2021 federal population census information;
• Update to regional policy and provincial legislation (MGA);
• Removal of steering committee member list;
• Clarification of policies; and
• Shortening of the timeframe for discretionary development permit referrals from 21 days to 14 days.

Intermunicipal Collaboration Framework (ICF)

An ICF is an agreement between neighbouring municipalities to provide for the integrated and strategic planning, delivery, and funding of intermunicipal services.

In 2019, Leduc County and the Town of Calmar worked collaboratively to prepare an ICF that identifies and supports services that have mutual benefit.

Section 4.b of the ICF requires that the Intermunicipal Committee meet at least once every four years commencing no later than 2023 to review the terms and conditions of the agreement.

On February 24, 2023 the Joint Intermunicipal Liaison Committee reviewed the ICF and endorsed the revisions to the ICF identified in the attached redlined version. The revisions are minor in nature and include, but are not limited to the following:

• Amendments to reflect the ICF will be approved by resolution and not adopted by bylaw. (The MGA legislation has changed and now allows an ICF to be approved by resolution. Approving the ICF by resolution will streamline future reviews of the ICF);
• Update to regional policy and provincial legislation (MGA); and
• Clarification and update to services offered.

CONTACT US

If you have questions or concerns please contact:
Laurie Johnson, Senior Planner - Regional Planning, at 780-955-6405 or Laurie@leduc-county.com,
or Sylvain Losier, Chief Administrative Officer, Town of Calmar at  slosier@calmar.ca or 780-985-3604 ext. 229 
between March 15 - 31, 2023.