Canmore’s Town Council has decided to rescind their draft Community Sustainability Plan (CSP).

The CSP was intended to replace the Town’s current Municipal Development Plan (MDP).  The process of developing the CSP began in late 2007.  Thousands of hours of public volunteer time and input, in the form of numerous small group meetings, community group meetings and world cafes, resulted in a draft document that was presented to Council formally in November 2008. After a series of public open houses in December 2008 and January 2009, and two public hearings in January, the CSP was given first reading on February 17, 2009. Council gave the CSP second reading on April 21, 2009 at which time Council asked Administration to consider a number of amendments relative to the planning guidelines for the undeveloped lands in Three Sisters Mountain Village (TSMV).

TSMV had recently gone into receivership and the lawyers for the Receiver and Three Sisters’ creditors contacted the Town voicing concerns with the proposed amendments. Following discussion with the Town and the Receiver on June 16 Council rescinded the motions in question leaving the CSP unchanged at second reading.  (Three readings of the CSP bylaw are required for it to become adopted.)  However, the Receiver for TSMV continued to have concerns with the 2nd Reading CSP document.  As a result of these additional concerns, in June and July, the Town communicated with the Receiver of TSMV and some of their major creditors to attempt to address their concerns.  Some of the concerns were able to be resolved and some of the concerns remain unresolved. 

The Province of Alberta is also currently looking at the wildlife corridors within the Town.  This work creates another level of uncertainty and complexity for the finalization of the CSP, as the CSP would need to comply with any provincial decision on the wildlife corridors.    The Province has not indicated how or when it intends to resolve the wildlife corridor delineation issue, making it complicated at best for the Town to complete the CSP. 

The Province also recently passed the Alberta Land Stewardship Act which contemplates binding regional plans and sub-regional plans that the Town’s CSP will have to comply with.  One such regional plan is the South Alberta Regional Plan which is currently being worked on and is scheduled for approval in 2010.  In addition, the Calgary Metropolitan Plan was approved by the Calgary Regional Partnership and is currently awaiting approval by the Provincial Government.  The CSP will also have to comply with any sub-regional plan subject to the South Alberta Regional Plan. 

Given all of these current ongoing issues, Council has decided to rescind the draft CSP. The current MDP will remain in effect.  Once some or all of these issues have been clarified, a process to reintroduce a CSP could be considered.  Council also directed Administration to consolidate the public input received from the CSP “Mining the Future II” consultation process into a reference document for Council’s consideration.  Council remains committed to the valuable input received from the public and are extremely grateful for all the time and effort that the community contributed to the CSP.  It is Council’s hope that, in the future, a CSP can be approved in a manner that reflects the community’s contribution to the process.