Project Information

Two Open House Events were held in December. The Open House events provided an opportunity for participants to learn more about the project and provide feedback on key topics. County staff were available to answer questions regarding the project process.

Steering Committee

The Steering Committee will consist of the County’s Municipal Planning Commission and community members selected by County Council and bring new ideas for discussion and test proposed regulations as they are drafted.

Background

The new Land Use Bylaw will support the County’s efforts to achieve many of the community’s and Council’s goals of promoting vibrant communities that embrace environmental stewardship and strong economic development. This will include finding the right balance to regulate industrial development and resource extraction under responsible governance and fiscal sustainability. In addition, the new LUB is envisioned to be a more streamlined set of regulations that allow the County to be more flexible and innovative when approving developments while protecting the rural lifestyle valued by residents.

The project was initiated in the Summer of 2021 and is intended to be finalized in Fall 2022. When this project is finished, Thorhild County will have a new Land Use Bylaw that supports good development, is easy to use, and supports applicants through the development process.

Steering Committee #1

Focus Group Meetings

Survey #1

Steering Committee #2

Open House #1

Steering Committee #3 and Open House #2

What is a Land Use Bylaw?

All municipalities in Alberta are required to prepare a land use bylaw. The Thorhild County Land Use Bylaw (LUB) establishes rules and regulations for land development within the County. The framework for a LUB is established by the Alberta Municipal Government Act (MGA). According to the MGA, the LUB must:

• Organize the County into districts, such as, residential, commercial, institutional, recreational, and industrial land use districts.
• Regulate the location and intensity of land uses and buildings.
• Establish the process for applying for permits to develop property and the process for changing the land use designation of land (rezoning).

How does the Land Use Bylaw impact me?

Since the LUB creates a “rule book” for development, it is very important it is regularly updated to make sure that the rules are reasonable, effective, and reflect new trends in building and site design. The development process can be an intimidating experience for many people, particularly for those who have never completed a development permit application before. The goal is to make the process easier for everyone to navigate and provide opportunities for residents and businessowners to understand a bit about the process before going through it.

Why is the County Re-writing its Land Use Bylaw?

The current LUB was created in 2015, though some changes have been made to the LUB over the years, much has changed in the community over the past six years.

The LUB rewrite is intended to evaluate the current regulations and determine what is working as intended, and what areas need to be adjusted and updated to reflect current development trends.

Who is leading the rewrite and what is the process?

The Municipal Planning Commission (MPC)  is the Steering Committee for the review and is being assisted by County staff and Green Space Alliance, a consulting firm based in Edmonton. As the steering committee for the process, the MPC reviews materials and provides direction throughout the process. This includes seeking public input on proposed changes and ideas.

How can I get involved?

There will be opportunities to gather feedback from landowners to provide input into the Land Use Bylaw rewrite, review the draft documents before they are considered for adoption by Council.  Have your say! Share your thoughts on the process and regulations for development in the County by regularly checking the project website, completing surveys, and attending to public engagement activities.