Just say NO! to a Calgary VETO
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No agreement over growth plan
http://www.calgaryherald.com/news/agreement+over+growth+plan/1692476/story.html
By Jason Markusoff, Calgary Herald
Calgary’s regional alliance met Friday without resolving the major problems Calgary’s biggest rural neighbours have with the region’s growth plan, an impasse that may ultimately force the Stelmach government to step in.
Fifteen of the 17 member municipalities of the Calgary Regional Partnerships voted against making no fundamental changes on water sharing and land use–but several lesser, conciliatory ones–before the vote Friday on the 70-year plan.
The holdouts are the Municipal Districts of Foothills and Rocky View, whose councillors said the disagreements are relatively minor and a resolution is still possible.
Urban leaders in the group disagree, saying the rural districts’ demands to scrap density rules, alter planned growth areas and conditions for water sharing would render meaningless the long-awaited plan to concentrate future growth without building over too much farmland.
“The very principles of sustain-ability could not be met if we make those changes,” said Airdrie Mayor Linda Bruce, the group’s chairwoman.
Foothills council must follow the wishes of residents, Deputy Reeve Terry Waddock said. Hundreds of them voiced opposition to the plan this week, particularly to a voting structure that would give Calgary an effective veto on regional decisions, as well to a growth map that proposes more urban-style growth in the rural land just south of Calgary.
Although Rocky View and Foothills occupy much of the land in the alliance, the partnership has enough supportive voters to ratify the long-range plan without them.
The blueprint, dubbed the Calgary Metropolitan Plan, is mandated under Alberta’s new land-use framework.
Municipal Affairs Minister Ray Danyluk said he’s confident Calgary’s neighbours can agree among themselves, and that he doesn’t want to run interference if he doesn’t have to.
“This government cannot afford the duplication in regional planning.”
Cochrane Mayor Truper McBride said the urban-rural split doesn’t really exist anymore, since Friday’s “yes” vote included Wheatland County, the rural district surrounding Strathmore.
But the county’s Shirley Reinhardt said Wheatland still needs time to consider whether it will ultimately sign on–whether or not it can iron out its serious concerns afterwards.
Wheatland abruptly exited the regional group last fall, but came back to the table after a meeting with Ted Morton, the Sustainable Resource Development minister.
jmarkusoff@theherald.canwest.com
Rural Calgary communities demand ‘voice’ in city’s growth
http://www.calgaryherald.com/news/calgary/Rural+communities+demand+voice/1688832/story.html
By Jason Markusoff, Calgary Herald
CALGARY – The rural communities that occupy the vast majority of the 12,000 square kilometres in the Calgary area are demanding make-or-break changes to a proposed plan that would chart population growth and water servicing across the region.
Politicians from cities, towns, villages and rural districts around Calgary will meet today in Cochrane to address or at least ease concerns before a pivotal final vote next Friday on the legally binding Calgary Metropolitan Plan.
Calgary council and others from Strathmore to Canmore and Nanton to Crossfield have come out in favour of the plan as is or with small tweaks.
But the Municipal Districts of Foothills and Rocky View, along with Wheatland County, have sharp oppositions, including to the plan’s decision to hinge regional waterline access to the construction of urbanized, high-density neighbourhoods.
But the more emotion-provoking issue is a regional decision-making system that requires the City of Calgary’s approval for all votes to succeed.
The vote requires approval of members who host at least half the population of the Calgary area, but also 12 of 17 municipal members –which also means the region’s towns and cities can make decisions without the OK of any of the three rural governments.
“We have the land mass, but we don’t have the voice,” Rocky View Reeve Lois Habberfield said Thursday.
She said the voting structure is one of the council’s “hills to die on” –if the Calgary Regional Partnership doesn’t agree to changes, Rocky View won’t sign on.
The same goes for Wheatland and Foothills.
Hundreds of residents attended a meeting about Foothills reaction to the plan Wednesday in Okotoks.
“Every single person that stood at the mike was opposed,” said resident Jody McPherson, who organized a “No Calgary Veto!” tailgate protest before the meeting.
She and others have suggested the plan’s call for urban-style growth in the next 60 years south on Calgary’s south boundary amounts to endorsing more urban sprawl.
The plan’s advocates, including Airdrie mayor and alliance chairwoman Linda Bruce, say it’s designed to concentrate future growth in certain areas and corridors that will let the region co-operate on straightforward regional mass-transit lines, sewage and water systems.
jmarkusoff@theherald.canwest.com
CHQR AM 770: Protestors show up to fight Calgary Metropolitan Plan
CHQR Newsroom
6/11/2009
Hundreds of protestors packed an Okotoks hall Wednesday evening to voice their concerns on the Calgary Metropolitan Plan. The group says under the guise of the new Provincial Landuse Framework, the Calgary Regional Partnership project would be unfair to the areas surrounding the city. Group Spokesman Al Sacuta says it pretty much guarantees urban sprawl and would damage the area’s sensitive environment. Sacuta says the plan would far exceed the region’s water availability and could even damage agricultural lands. The group also complains the plan fails to incorporate public input meaningfully, and would allow the City of Calgary an ultimate veto over rural rights.
Eagle radio station: Rally to Support MD
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Residents of the MD of Foothills rallied outside the Foothills Centennial Centre Wednesday night.
MD council held a meeting regarding changes they would like to see in the Calgary Regional Partnership’s Metropolitan Plan. MD resident and rally spokesperson, Jody MacPherson says they are supporting the MD’s position on the plan, which is to ask for amendments to suit residents and the land. Rally goers boasted signs saying no to a Calgary veto, no to urban sprawl and concern over a lack of water. MacPherson says the June vote on the plan should be pushed back as there hasn’t been enough consultation between the CRP and residents.
Protest Backgrounder
Okotoks, June 9, 2009: Under the guise of the new Provincial Land Use Framework, the Calgary Regional Partnership has created the Calgary Metropolitan Plan (CMP). We believe the CMP is not aligned with the Land Use Framework or with overwhelming grassroots support for a sustainable future for Southern Alberta. The plan was formed without adequate public input and is opposed by the majority of the rural community.
The shortfalls of the plan are:
• it advocates regional population growth that exceeds water availability;
• it facilitates further urban sprawl outside Calgary’s city limits;
• there is no protection for agricultural and undeveloped land;
• it fails to incorporate public input in any meaningful way; and
• it includes a governance model that will allow an urban veto over rural rights.
These shortfalls will all but guarantee further urban sprawl, leading to unprecedented environmental damage to Southern Alberta and fiscal crisis for municipalities.
These concerns have been brought forward to the Calgary Regional Partnership during the public consultation open houses. However, there have not been any significant changes to the draft CMP as a result of public input.
The citizens of our communities will hold all elected officials accountable. We will consider both provincial and municipal politicians who either ratify this plan or do nothing to actively oppose it, directly responsible.
Citizen Groups United for Sustainable Development in Southern Alberta
Who we are:
Priddis-Millarville Residents Association http://www.priddis-millarville.ca
Bearspaw Sensible Development Group http://www.canadianguerilla.com
Central Springbank Task Force for Sustainable Development http://www.ourspringbank.ca
Highway 8 Sensible Development Group
Citizens for a Sustainable Okotoks
Just Say No to a Calgary Veto Petitioners http://www.nocalgaryveto.com
Springbank Community Planning Association
Media Advisory: Community groups protest Calgary Metropolitan Plan
Okotoks, June 9, 2009: The chairs of grassroots rural community development groups surrounding the City of Calgary will be holding a TAILGATE PROTEST to draw attention to serious shortfalls in the Calgary Metropolitan Plan (CMP). The groups believe the CMP needs major revisions before ratification on June 19.
WHEN: Wednesday, June 10, 2009 @ 6:30 p.m.
WHERE: Foothills Centennial Centre, 4, 204 Community Way (located behind the Okotoks RCMP detachment office) Google Location Here
WHAT: Community leaders will speak briefly about concerns, prior to a formal meeting organized by the MD of Foothills. Speakers on behalf of the protesters to include:
• Vice-President of the Priddis-Millarville Residents Association, Suzanne Oel;
• Chair of the Bearspaw Sensible Development Group, Al Sacuta;
• Co-founder of Citizens for a Sustainable Okotoks, Dr. Nancy Ginzer; and
• Former Okotoks Town Councillor, Laurie Hodson.
See the attached backgrounder for more information.
Parking is expected to be limited. Additional parking is available at the Centennial hockey arena adjacent to the Foothills Centennial Centre.
Also available for comment is J.C. Anderson, founder of Anderson Exploration, who opposes the CMP. He says, “to place the destiny of the MD landowners and residents completely in the hands of Calgary City Council forever is “simply madness.” More at: https://nocalgaryveto.wordpress.com/2009/06/06/anderson-speaks-out/
For interviews and contact information for all of the above community leaders:
Jody MacPherson
Organizer of the NoCalgaryVeto petition
Cell: 403-560-9369
http://www.nocalgaryveto.com
MD of Foothills responds to criticism of its residents
One of the arguments often used to justify joining the Calgary Regional Partnership is the “parasitic fringe dweller” argument. It goes like this, “residents living on the outskirts of an urban community don’t pay for any of the infrastructure costs in that community and yet they use those services frequently.” These so-called “freeloaders” will be more easily controlled by the Calgary Regional Partnership.
So, I guess the people who make this argument don’t really take into consideration the amount of money flowing into these communities from the fringe dwellers as they shop and spend their cash at the local grocery stores, gas stations, restaurants, etc. They also seem to ignore the fact that the CRP will actually INCREASE the number of fringe dwellers by definition, as the whole point of the plan is to figure out where to put an additional 1.6 million people (water optional, apparently). At any rate, the argument fails to give credit where credit is due and the MD of Foothills has provided the following information about financial support given to various municipalities in 2008:
“The Municipal District of Foothills has a long history of working with its urban neighbours to jointly provide services to residents of the area. This support includes annual operating cost contributions and capital cost contributions on a case by case basis. In 2008 about $3.685 million dollars will be paid to urban municipalities or to groups providing services in an urban municipality. This total is broken down as follows:
Fire Operating $614,500
The M.D. of Foothills has agreements to provide fire suppression services with six urban municipalities – Towns of High River, Okotoks, Black Diamond, Turner Valley, the Village of Longview and the City of Calgary. The share of costs paid by the MD of Foothills reflects the percentage of use by the MD. The MD share of costs ranges from minimal with the City of Calgary to nearly 90% with the Village of Longview. The MD also pays full costs for four other fire stations in the MD.
Fire Capital $1,621,400
In 2008 the MD of Foothills contributed to the capital cost of fire equipment and buildings located in urban municipalities. This included 30% of the cost of the Okotoks fire hall expansion ($1,161,400), 50% of the cost of a pumper truck in High River and 100% of the cost of a tanker truck in Longview.
Recreation Operating $688,500
The MD has recreation cost sharing agreements with five urban municipalities – Towns of High River, Okotoks, Black Diamond, Turner Valley and the Village of Longview. These agreements provide payments for operating costs of the various recreation facilities in the urban municipalities. The costs sharing formula is based on the percentage of rural residents who use the urban facilities.
Recreation Capital $250,000
In 2008 the MD of Foothills contributed $100,000 towards the construction of an outdoor artificial ice surface in the Town of Black Diamond. The MD also committed $150,000 to the completion of the Highwood Memorial Center Expansion in the Town of High River in addition to $596,000 in contributions in 2007.
Administration Services $226,000
The MD of Foothills shares an administration building and some staff with the Town of High River. Shared staff includes Information Technology, Human Resources and Grant Writer. The sharing of staff provides increased staff resources for both municipalities at a reduced cost. The shared building allows more efficient use of public space at a lower cost for both municipalities.
Water/Waste Water $109,500
The MD of Foothills purchases water and waste water services from the Town of High River to provide service for an industrial corridor and hamlet in the MD.
FCSS $171,000
Through FCSS funding the MD provides funding either directly to urban municipalities or to groups operating out of their towns to provide services to both urban and rural residents.
Enforcement Services $4,270
The MD has partnered with its urban municipalities to provide a court liaison worker to assist municipal enforcement personnel with administrative duties related to the court system.
In addition to direct support to urban municipalities the MD participates in two regional commissions – The Foothills Regional Emergency Medical Services Commission (FREMS) and the Foothills Regional Services Commission (FRSC). The MD also partners with the urban municipalities in our area to operate the Foothills Foundation to provide seniors housing.
FREMS provides ambulance and 911 Dispatch service for the region. The MD of Foothills pays about 1/3 of the total municipal share of the cost for these services. The 2008 cost to the MD of Foothills after provincial funding is deducted was $430,458.
FRSC operates the regional landfill and the MD of Foothills provides administration services as well as contracts with the commission to provide operating staff for the landfill. The landfill operates on a user pay basis and does not require municipal subsidies.
Foothills Foundation provides housing for seniors at facilities located in High River, Black Diamond and Okotoks. The M.D. of Foothills annual requisition is $489,875 representing 57% of the $852,427 requisitioned by the Foundation in 2008.
The Foothills Country Hospice is located in the M.D. of Foothills and provides hospice care to terminally ill residents of the region. The M.D. is a strong supporter of this regional initiative and to date has contributed over $80,000 to this excellent and needed facility.”
So much for “parasitic fringe dwellers.” Okotoks Town Councillors might be wise to think about the way they are describing MD residents in the future.
Tailgate protest planned for June 10 at 6:30 p.m.
If you are unable to view the poster below, please download a PDF version here.
Legendary founder of Anderson Exploration speaks out about the Calgary Regional Partnership
J.C. Anderson, founder and former CEO of Calgary-based Anderson Exploration has written a letter to the Reeve of the MD of Foothills with his concerns about the Calgary Metropolitan Plan. Sustainable Resource Development Minister, Ted Morton and Okotoks Mayor Bill McAlpine were cc’ed on the letter.
Mr. Anderson attended the MD of Foothills Open House on April 7 at the Millarville Race Track and spoke up at that time about his concerns. He currently owns almost 3,000 acres just south of Calgary and has lived in the MD for about 33 years. He runs a ranching operation with about 600 head of cattle and 500 acres of cultivated land. He was inducted into the Petroleum Hall of Fame in 2001 and received awards for his strong leadership, including a Pinnacle Award in 1996.
He says: “The CRP Plan has a major effect on me and, for that matter, all other landowners in the MD. As well, residents of the towns in the MD could, and most probably will be, adversely affected, but I don’t believe they realize that.”
Here is an excerpt from Mr. Anderson’s letter, dated May 15, 2009 and shared with the NoCalgaryVeto campaign with his permission:
To summarize, the following are my major concerns with the Plan, as presently proposed:
1. The Plan is clearly an INFRINGEMENT ON PROPERTY RIGHTS.
2. The Plan effectively permits EXPROPRIATION WITHOUT COMPENSATION of some MD lands.
3. The Plan DESTROYS LAND VALUES in parts of the MD.
4. The Plan gives the City of Calgary VETO POWER over future land-based activities in the MD.
5. The Plan is administered by an unelected board, not accountable to MD residents.
The voting procedure. The voting procedure as presently constituted effectively gives the City of Calgary veto power over any land use or development proposed in the MD or the towns therein.
Regional Landscape Policies. The CRP Plan, as I understand it, is ambiguous in its wording in the City could freeze the lands of MD landowners and residents by imposing excessive water setbacks and by creating huge wildlife corridors, neither of which are necessary.
Urban Growth Areas Known as the “Blue Blobs.” The Blue Blob concept only permits development at typical city densities of 8-10 units per acres. Basically, no development can take place until the city wants it done and this could tie up Blue Blob lands for up to 60 years before being developed by the City. THIS IS TANTAMOUNT TO EXPROPRIATION WITHOUT COMPENSATION.
The 3 Changes Wanted by the MD Council. I support the changes to the CRP Plan proposed by the MD Council as follows:
1. The MD must remain responsible for land use decisions in its own jurisdiction.
2. Before 60 year urban growth areas in the MD are finalized, landowners and residents must be fully advised so they understand the impact and are able to provide input. I would add that agreement by affected landowners must be obtained before urban growth areas can be finalized.
3. Any amendment must have a unanimous vote if the CRP wishes to take over any land use authority from a municipality.
Blue Blob Problem. As well, I must insist that the Blue Blobs be removed from the map and the Plan. To tie up these lands now for future City development makes no sense. When the City wants and needs these lands, they can go through the available annexation procedures.
Components of the CRP plan will certainly REDUCE LAND VALUES OF THE MD LANDOWNERS and, as written, the CRP Plan is clearly an INFRINGEMENT OF PROPERTY RIGHTS, which are a very important cornerstone of our society. If this is allowed, particularly in the Blue Blob areas, MD owners outside the Blue Blob areas (I am also one of these) should also be concerned and ask themselves WHAT NEXT? There are other places in the world where property rights have been destroyed, particularly in the countries behind the Iron Curtain where the 75 year socialist experiment failed miserably.
I appreciate the City of Calgary’s desire to plan for and control its growth and the City should have a significant degree of control over the major services (water, sewer, etc.) they might provide in the future to the towns within the MD. However to place the destiny of the MD landowners and residents completely in the hands of Calgary City Council forever is simply madness.
Yours very truly,
JC Anderson
Email Update June 4, 2009: June 10 @ Foothills Centennial Centre is Last Chance
Hello Petitioners,
On Wednesday, June 10, the MD of Foothills is has called a meeting to discuss the Draft Calgary Metropolitan Plan (CMP). This meeting will be held at the Foothills Centennial Centre, 204 Community Way in Okotoks. Since I last wrote to you, at least five members have submitted letters to the Calgary Regional Partnership, asking for significant amendments to the CMP, due largely to public feedback. Your comments and the nearly 800 signatures on the Just Say NO to a Calgary Veto campaign have played an important role in convincing municipal politicians to make some important amendments to the CMP before signing on the dotted line on June 19, 2009.
The June 10 meeting is the last public opportunity to voice your concerns about the Calgary veto and other issues. We are asking for a large turnout at the meeting and are inviting the news media to attend. At 6:30 p.m., several community groups will have speeches and a “tailgate protest” in the parking lot of the Foothills Community Centre (located behind the Okotoks RCMP office). Groups from Bearspaw and Springbank who are also opposed to the Calgary Metropolitan Plan have been invited to attend.
Detailed update
I’ve obtained a copy of the memo to the CMP steering committee from Airdrie Mayor Linda Bruce in which she says, “In reviewing the attached resolutions I was quite surprised to see the volume and extent of the CMP revisions that are being proposed by a few CRP members at this point in our process.”
At last count, four municipalities are asking for changes to the draft plan in response to concerns from the citizens. The proposed changes are substantial and will most certainly conflict with the expectations of the City of Calgary in their letter to the CRP, in which Mayor Dave Bronconnier says, “I have…made it clear to the Steering Committee and the Executive that it is the City of Calgary’s expectation that members of the Partnership would support the entire package as an integrated approach to planning, servicing and governance.” Read more…
Okotoks
The Okotoks submission states that, “Okotoks’ Council has determined that a population increase, characterized by the moderate growth strategy, may be considered over the next two years only if solutions are developed to enable the community to continue to support living within the natural carrying capacity of our watershed.” This is a slightly different spin than what was agreed to at Town Council on May 25. There is no mention of maintaining the status quo Sustainable Okotoks policy, a glaring omission given the emotional drama that played out in Council Chambers. Many feel that this is a betrayal of the Town Council’s earlier vote to keep the population cap. Read more…
MD of Rocky View
The MD of Rockyview submitted a lengthy 12-page report and says, “we wish to advise that if the key issues outlined below go unresolved, we will be unable to ratify the CMP.” The five issues are listed as: annexation/jurisdiction, public consultation, urban vs rural planning, the voting structure and water allocation. The MD is effectively giving the “thumbs down” to the Calgary veto. Read more...
County of Wheatland
The County of Wheatland reportedly tried to duck out of the whole Calgary Regional Partnership early in the process. The story goes that they received a visit from a Cabinet Minister and were back at the table. Their concerns are in the areas of governance (the Calgary veto again) and Land Use. They mention that the rural municipalities have the land base while the City of Calgary has the population base and this should be recognized in the decision-making structure.
The Calgary Metropolitan Plan currently states that “It should not be possible, therefore, for communities to cherry pick, to opt into or out of individual components of the CMP.” (Okotoks residents take note, there is no option for the Town to select anything but the urban density as determined by the CRP–in other words, even the moderate growth scenario is not guaranteed to be allowed under the provisions of the Calgary Metropolitan Plan. It is fairly certain that the full-growth is the only option should Okotoks sign on to the CMP.) The County of Wheatland is recommending that this statement be removed completely. A stroke of common sense that seems to have eluded Okotoks Town Council. Read more…
The MD of Foothills has submitted a significant list of amendments that will be outlined on June 10 starting at 7 p.m. Read more…
Please attend the meeting at the Foothills Centennial Centre at 6:30 p.m. and speak up about your concerns with the Calgary veto, the “blue blob” urban sprawl and the most important issue of water supply. If you would like to lend a hand, we are always in need of volunteers to make and distribute materials like posters, signs and flyers. Let me know if you would like to help. Thanks.
Jody
All truth passes through 3 stages. First, it is ridiculed. Second, it is violently opposed. Third, it is accepted as being self-evident.
Arthur Schopenhauer
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Just say NO! to a Calgary VETO 