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Red Deer City and County agree in principle to long term growth strategies after months of stress
Both parties recognize co-operation more productive than conflict

Mar. 23, 2007

After several months of disputes, stalled development and various other stresses, the City of Red Deer and Red Deer County have come together with an agreement that should allow co-operative and co-ordinated development for many years into the future.

Today, the two municipalities signed a memorandum of understanding that sets the framework for a new Intermunicipal Development Plan (IDP).

proposed intermunicipal agreement The agreement sets out several important features for the creation of a new IDP:

- Gasoline Alley east and west, with a defined boundary, will stay in Red Deer County jurisdiction;

- The County will drop its dispute over the city's proposed industrial annexation of eight quarter sections of land west of Highway QE2 and south of Highway 11A and will allow the city to proceed with the outright purchase of two of those quarter sections;

- The City will withdraw all registered disputes with the County over fringe development south of the city including the Springbrook-Gasoline Alley Area Structure Plan and the new Land Use Bylaw;

- The County will be able to proceed with residential development in Gasoline Alley that could ultimately develop into a community with a population of 8,000;

- Some office development will be permitted in Gasoline Alley making way for Community Savings to proceed with its proposed corporate administration building;

- The County will support Red Deer's East Hill Area Structure Plan without requiring amendments to the city's Municipal Development Plan;

- The City will proceed with the annexation of approximately 11 quarter sections of land north of Highway 11A including the area around Hazlett Lake, approximately 25 quarter sections of land east of the city for future residential development, and the Heritage Ranch/Riverside Park area;

- Medium and long term growth of the city will generally conform to lands identified in the 'Future Directions: Red Deer at 300,000' growth strategy north to the Blindman River as well as east and west but excluding Gasoline Alley and the land immediately west of Gasoline Alley;

- An agricultural buffer zone will be maintained south of the city, north of the airport/Springbrook;

- Overall residential densities will increase in order to limit the effects of urban sprawl;

- A joint strategy will be developed for the enhancement of entrance ways to greater Red Deer on Highway QE2 north and south.

The new agreement comes as a result of the challenges and stresses of both municipalities experiencing rapid demands for growth over the past few years.

This demand put considerable strain on both the city and the county on the fringe of the city and challenged long-held conflicting beliefs and concepts that each municipality struggled with over future growth as the opportunities of a bustling economy and perfect location put many pressures on each administrative body.

It also diminishes the time, effort and expense of forcing the provincial Municipal Government Board to make a decision that would surely have disappointed one or both of the municipalities. It also removes the uncertainty of a business community that has become very frustrated over the delays imposed by conflicts between the city and the county.

Development can now proceed in a planned and co-ordinated way, increasing the attractiveness of investing and living in the Red Deer Region.

Note: the 'Future Directions' report, 2004 Red Deer Growth Study and the old IDP can be reviewed at the City of Red Deer website and the 2006 County Growth Strategy and the old IDP can be reviewed at the Red Deer County website.


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