Part 17 of the Municipal Government Act is the key provincial legislation from which all municipalities derive their authority to undertake planning and development. Part 17 establishes the powers and responsibilities of Council and administration in creating policies, plans and bylaws to regulate land use and development within their municipality, to ensure orderly physical, environmental and economic development. In Vulcan County specifically, the MGA allows us to create statutory planning documents to provide a framework for coordinated land use planning and decision-making. These documents are the Municipal Development Plan (MDP), Intermunicipal Development Plan (IDP), Area Structure Plan (ASP) and the Land Use Bylaw.
is an instrument developed by the Provincial Government pursuant to section 13 of the Alberta Land Stewardship Act (ALSA) which uses a cumulative effect management approach to set policy direction for municipalities to achieve desired environmental, economic and social outcomes within the South Saskatchewan Region. Vulcan County’s statutory planning documents must comply with the SSRP.
is a planning document that addresses the established policies applicable to an area of common interest between two municipalities. An IDP is considered to be a complete document only if it also includes an Intermunicipal Collaboration Framework (ICF) which addresses the co-operative use of services.
Vulcan County either has or is in the process of adopting IDPs with all its rural and urban neighbours. The plans foster collaboration and cooperation regarding these areas of mutual interest and address land use expectations within the plan area. IDPs contain policy to be used as a framework for working cooperatively, however each municipality is ultimately responsible for making decisions within their jurisdiction.
Vulcan County and M.D. of Willow Creek IDP 2015-006
Vulcan County and M.D. of Willow Creek ICF 2019-026 (pending approval)
Vulcan County and County of Newell IDP 2015-008 (Amended 2018-031)
Vulcan County and Wheatland County IDP 2015-009 (Amended 2018-041)
Vulcan County and M.D. of Foothills IDP 2015-019
Vulcan County and M.D. of Taber IDP 2017-035
Vulcan County and M.D. of Taber ICF 2018-028
Vulcan County and Lethbridge County IDP 2019-017
Vulcan County and Lethbridge County ICF 2019-020
Vulcan County and Town of Vulcan IDP 2019-014
is a long-range planning document intended to guide the municipality’s development into a desired future. The vision, goals and policies covered in the MDP are intended to provide strategic direction to inform the actions of the municipality, landowners and developers with respect to land use and planning. Every Municipality must adopt an MDP in accordance with the Municipal Government Act. The MDP must be consistent with the direction given in the South Saskatchewan Regional Plan and any Intermunicipal Development Plans.
are intended to establish frameworks for subdivision and development within a particular area within a Municipality. They address such matters as where certain types of development should be allowed or encouraged, transportation networks, servicing, drainage control, population density, environmental concerns, fire protection and any other matters defined in the MDP or applicable IDPs.
Once an ASP has been adopted by council, it serves as the statutory planning document that any subsequent subdivision or development must adhere to in the identified area.
Vulcan County has the following Area Structure Plans:
Brant Area Structure Plan – Bylaw 2006-006
Wyndham-Carseland Area Structure Plan 95-025
Crystal Blue Harbour Area Structure Plan (Amended 2014-015)
McGregor Travers Little Bow Reservoirs Area Structure Plans (Amended 2004-023)
Mossleigh Area Structure Plan (Amended 2012-035)
is the planning and development document that regulates all subdivision and development within the County. The Land Use Bylaw typically identifies land in the County by zones or districts, where within are permitted, discretionary and prohibited uses. It also identifies general and specific standards for development, defines the process for submitting subdivision and development applications and their decisions, and mechanisms to enforce the bylaw.