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Legislative Framework - Planning Hierarchy

ServicesPlanning & DevelopmentLegislative Framework - Planning Hierarchy

Legislative Framework - Planning Hierarchy

The Municipal Government Act (MGA) establishes the planning context in which Municipal Governments implement many of the planning processes in Alberta.  In the planning hierarchy below, plans, bylaws and approvals that are lower must be consistent with plans that are higher, as illustrated.

Regional Plans:  Seven Regional Plans are being prepared under the provincial Land-use Framework.  The Alberta Land Stewardship Act establishes the legal basis for the development of Regional Plans under the Land Use Framework.  Thorhild County sits within the one of these being the North Saskatchewan Regional Plan.

Alberta Land Stewardship Act (ALSA) and the Municipal Government Act (MGA):
ALSA is a high level document that sets the land use direction for the province and the MGA is an operational document that provides municipalities with functional direction.

Statutory Plans include: Intermunicipal Development Plans, Intermunicipal Collaboration Framework(s), Municipal Development Plans, Area Structure Plans, and Area Redevelopment Plans.  Subdivision and development decisions are required to be consistent with any approved statutory plan.  Listed below are the statutory plans as they appear in the MGA from general to specific: 

Intermunicipal Development Plan (IDP) Two or more municipalities have the option to develop and adopt an IDP for areas within their boundaries.  The plan should provide for future land use within the identified IDP area and is required to identify a procedure to resolve conflicts, to deal with amendments or repeals, and to administer the plan.  The Minister may require municipal authorities to establish an IDP. 

Intermunicipal Collaboration Framework (ICF) Frameworks specify what and how services are funded and delivered with other municipalities that share a common boundary.

Municipal Development Plan (MDP) addresses future land use and development within the municipality and coordinates land use, future growth patterns, transportation systems, municipal services and facilities within the municipality as well as other infrastructure that relates to adjacent municipalities.  This must also contain policies compatible with the subdivision and development regulations, provision of municipal and school reserves and the protection of agricultural operations.

Area Structure Plan (ASP) A municipal council has the option to adopt an ASP to provide a framework for developing a specific area within the municipality.  Unlike other statutory plans, an ASP is generally prepared by a developer and not necessarily initiated by the municipality.  An ASP must describe the proposed development sequence, proposed land uses for the area, proposed population density of the area, and the general location of major transportation routes and public utilities. 

Area Redevelopment Plan (ARP) A municipal council has the option to develop an ARP for a designated area of the municipality to preserve land and buildings, to rehabilitate, remove or construct buildings, to improve roads, to generally facilitate development in the area, and for collection of redevelopment levies.  An ARP includes the objectives of the plan, the proposed land uses, the reasons for any redevelopment levies to be proposed as part of the plan, and any proposals for acquiring land for municipal uses, schools, parks and recreation. 

Land Use Bylaw (LUB) Under the MGA, all municipalities are required to adopt a land use bylaw.  The land use bylaw divides the municipality into districts, prescribes the uses of land and establishes development standards for each district, and provides for a system for issuing development permits. 

Development Permit  A document permitting a specific development and  may include conditions imposed to ensure that the development complies with the current Land Use Bylaw.

 

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Alberta Emergency Alerts

Emergency Alerts will appear below when active.

tornado watch changed

### Area: (Woodlands Co. near Fort Assiniboine Timeu and Topland, Co. of Barrhead near Thunder Lake and Holmes Crossing, Co. of Barrhead near Neerlandia Bloomsbury and Vega, Co. of Barrhead near Barrhead and Lac la Nonne, M.D. of Lesser Slave River near Chisholm and Cross Lake, Westlock Co. near Larkspur Fawcett and Jarvie, Westlock Co. near Westlock and Clyde, Yellowhead Co. near MacKay Wildwood and Evansburg, Lac Ste. Anne Co. near Mayerthorpe and Sangudo, Lac Ste. Anne Co. near Cherhill and Glenevis, Lac Ste. Anne Co. near Onoway and Lac Ste. Anne, Parkland Co. near Entwistle Fallis and Tomahawk, Parkland Co. near Wabamun Carvel and Keephills, Parkland Co. near Spruce Grove and Stony Plain, Sturgeon Co. near Rivière Qui Barre and Villeneuve, Sturgeon Co. near Legal and Mearns, Sturgeon Co. near Morinville Volmer and Big Lake, Leduc Co. near Warburg Thorsby and Pigeon Lake, Leduc Co. near Calmar and Devon, Brazeau Co. near Drayton Valley and Breton, Co. of Wetaskiwin near Pigeon Lake, Co. of Wetaskiwin near Alder Flats and Winfield, Ponoka Co. near Rimbey Bluffton and Hoadley, Ponoka Co. near Crestomere, M.D. of Greenview near Fox Creek, Yellowhead Co. near Edson and Sundance Prov. Park, Yellowhead Co. near Peers and Niton Junction, Woodlands Co. near Benbow and Windfall, Woodlands Co. near Carson-Pegasus Prov. Park, Woodlands Co. near Goose Lake, Woodlands Co. near Whitecourt and Blue Ridge, Big Lakes County near Swan Hills)

tornado watch changed

### Area: (Brazeau Co. near Cynthia and Lodgepole, Yellowhead Co. near Minnow and Wolf Lakes and Elk River, O'Chiese 203 Res. and Clearwater Co. near Sunchild Cree Res., Brazeau Co. near Brazeau Dam)

tornado warning changed

### Area: (Brazeau Co. near Cynthia and Lodgepole, Brazeau Co. near Drayton Valley and Breton)

tornado warning in effect

At 5:06 p.m. Mountain Daylight Time Wednesday, Environment Canada has issued a tornado warning for South Central Alberta. Extra care and attention should be exercised in and around the following localities: Wolf Lake, Cynthia and Brazeau Dam. Environment Canada meteorologists are tracking a severe thunderstorm that is possibly producing a tornado. Damaging winds, large hail and locally intense rainfall are also possible. Area: (Brazeau Co. near Cynthia and Lodgepole)

tornado warning in effect

At 5:05 p.m. MDT, Environment Canada meteorologists are tracking a severe thunderstorm that is possibly producing a tornado. Damaging winds, large hail and locally intense rainfall are also possible. The thunderstorm that may produce a tornado is located just west of Lodgepole, and is heading to the east at 15 km/h. Very large tennis ball sized hail and strong winds are also possible. ### This is a dangerous and potentially life-threatening situation. Tornado warnings are issued when imminent or occurring thunderstorms are likely to produce or are producing tornadoes. Area: (Brazeau Co. near Cynthia and Lodgepole)

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