Editor:
I would like to add a brief commentary on the letter, New vision a lengthy process, published in the Nov. 4 edition of the Rocky Mountain Outlook on the above topic.
Feedback from the ‘Mining the Future’ process, which was carried out under Mayor Ron Casey, was incorporated into the Community Sustainability Plan (CSP, Bylaw 28-2008) which was to be Canmore’s new municipal development plan, replacing the 1998 MDP. Initiated in late 2007, with thousands of hours of public volunteer time and input, the CSP received second reading in April of 2009, only to be rescinded at the request of the receiver of Three Sisters Mountain Village.
Later, when Canmore’s 2016 MDP was being contemplated, it was understood that it would be based on the 2009 CSP. Unfortunately, the MDP did not retain as many or as comprehensive conservation policies as the 2009 CSP.
Thanks to then Canmore Council, especially former Mayor John Borrowman and Coun. Sean Krausert, the 2016 MDP still retains strong requirements for developers to provide a detailed Environmental Impact Assessment (EIS) for new area structure plans, area redevelopment plans, or amendments thereto any proposal to move Canmore’s growth boundary and for proposed development that would threaten our wildlife corridors.
In all these instances, the Town of Canmore required that a developer’s EIS must be reviewed by a qualified third party. Of course, the third-party critique of the developer’s proposal is only effective if it is given due weight by the planning department and by council in their decision making.
However, returning for reference to the 2009 CSP would prove instructive in making further improvements to the conservation policies in the 2016 MDP.
Heather MacFadyen, Chair
Bow Corridor Organization for Responsible Development
