What We Heard: REPORT ON PUBLIC CONSULTATION REGARDING GROWTH IN THE MD OF FOOTHILLS 2012

BUILDING ON OUR PAST…

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. Introduction – Why a Growth Management Strategy? ...... 1 The Growth We Have Seen ...... 1 The Costs of Uncontrolled Growth ...... 4 The Benefits of a Growth Management Strategy ...... 4 Project Goals - What Do We Hope to Accomplish? ...... 5 Phasing - How is the project set up? ...... 5 2. The Consultation Process - How did we gather information? ...... 6 The Growing Smarter Survey ...... 6 MDP2010 ...... 6 GMS Survey 2011-2012 ...... 6 3. Our Foothills ...... 7 The East District ...... 9 The South Central District ...... 10 The South West District ...... 11 The North West District ...... 12 The Central District ...... 13 4. Building On Our Past - A Vision Forward ...... 14 5. Our Future ...... 16 Where Should the Majority of Growth Occur? ...... 16 Which Districts are Able to Support Growth, and How Much Growth? ...... 18 6. Summary – What Did We Learn? ...... 22 What Do Our Residents Value? ...... 22 ...... 23 ...... 23 What Are Residents of the MD Concerned About? ...... 23 7. Next Steps - What will we do now? ...... 25

1. Introduction – Why a Growth Management Strategy?

From 1999 to 2009, the MD of Foothills was subject to significant development pressures due to a booming local economy and a common desire among city residents to escape the hustle and bustle of the city and achieve a more desirable lifestyle. Now that development has slowed somewhat we have the opportunity to take stock of where growth has occurred, what impacts it has had and what the best path forward might be that will enable us to preserve those qualities of the MD that are most important to our residents. The Growth We Have Seen

Looking at total population numbers for the MD as TABLE 1 –POPULATION OF THE MD provided by Municipal Affairs, it is evident that growth in the MD has been significant: MD of Foothills MD total population 1996: 14331 Total Population by year

2001: 16602 25000

2006: 19736 20000

2011: 21258 15000 These numbers indicate that the MD saw 16% growth from 1996-2001, 19% growth from 2001- 10000 2006 and 7.7% growth from 2006-2011. 5000 Total population numbers provide only part of the picture though. To get a real understanding of 0 growth it is important to look at how that population 1996 2001 2006 2011 growth is dispersed.

Thanks to data from the Mistakis Institute we have been able to produce a series of maps that track the history of development in the MD. The maps show us the number of structures built on each quarter section through the last hundred and eleven years. The data starts at 1900, so structures built prior to then are not shown on the maps.

Highwood River Sheep River

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FIGURE 1 - NUMBER OF STRUCTURES PER QUARTER 1900 -1910

This first map shows us how much development occurred between 1900 and 1910.

The grey areas are the current foot- print of the Towns located within the MD.

The two blank spaces in the south western portion of the MD are the Eden Valley Indian Reservation lands.

FIGURE 2 - NUMBER OF STRUCTURES PER QUARTER 1960

This map shows structures built from 1900 through 1959.

By the end of 1959 we see a scattering of single structures throughout most of the MD, a number of clusters of 2-5 structures and a handful of quarters with 6-10 structures.

The red dots in the east and south are the Hamlets of Blackie and Cayley.

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FIGURE 3 - NUMBER OF STRUCTURES PER QUARTER 2002

By 2002 there are areas of the MD where there are no bare quarters for significant distances. There are also starting to be a significant number of quarter sections with 11-20, 21-30 and even up to 50 structures.

Areas adjacent to the City of and around are showing significant densification. We can also pick out some of the local Hutterite Colonies on the map.

FIGURE 4 - NUMBER OF STRUCTURES PER QUARTER 2010

According to our own tax assessment data for 2010, the number of dwellings per quarter now looks something like this…

So the question becomes: Where do we go from here?

We could choose to approve subdivision and development on and ad-hoc basis which would most likely result in the fragmentation of the majority of the MD, increased costs for roads and servicing and significant detriment to the agricultural industry.… Or we could choose to direct development towards certain areas of the MD and away from others.

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The Costs of Uncontrolled Growth

When growth is allowed to proceed unchecked there can be significant negative impacts, these include:  Fragmentation of agricultural lands;  Increased costs for roads and utilities;  Impacts on land, air and water;  Increased costs for soft services such as fire protection and policing;  Noise and light pollution;  Increase in crime rates. These impacts can be mitigated by focusing and managing growth. By promoting a balanced mix of growth in Hamlets, infill areas and cluster developments we will be able to support the preservation of agricultural lands, environmentally significant areas and wildlife habitat as well as the quality of life that our residents value. The Benefits of a Growth Management Strategy

The Growth Management Strategy (GMS) will build on the work done in the preparation of the MDP2010 and will provide Council with a resource to assist them in making decisions regarding development. In addition, it will assist with:  Addressing Provincial planning requirements;  Negotiating with adjacent municipalities;  Addressing cumulative effects, sustainability and environmental issues;  Planning for efficient and effective infrastructure;  Providing direction for developers;  Creating economic opportunities;  Limiting fragmentation of our agricultural lands; and  Creating vibrant communities.

Dunbow Area, 2011 of Blackie, 2011

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Project Goals - What Do We Hope to Accomplish?

There are several goals that we hope to accomplish through undertaking a growth management strategy including:

 Educating the public on the importance of planning for growth;  Incorporating public values into municipal policy;  Determining what qualities of the MD are most valued by our residents;  Beginning to describe, in qualitative terms, some strategies that will enable the MD to grow in such a way as to preserve those qualities;  Capitalizing on existing opportunities and overcoming potential challenges;  Supporting conservation of the natural environment;  Supporting conservation of agricultural lands;  Building trust with residents. Phasing - How is the project set up?

The GMS project will be undertaken in two distinct phases:

Phase 1

Phase 1 has been focused on both informing the public about the project and its benefits and gathering information from residents of the MD to determine the important characteristics of each proposed district, opportunities and constraints that will influence their future growth and the residents’ vision for the future.

Phase 2

Phase 2 will build on the information gathered in phase one to outline some strategies to assist in achieving our resident’s vision for the future in each district of the MD.

MD Welcome Sign Highway #23 South West District – Hwy #22

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2. The Consultation Process - How did we gather information?

The growth management strategy project is primarily about determining what our residents value and what their growth aspirations might be, and taking that information to develop a common vision that can be incorporated into a plan for the future. The Growing Smarter Survey

The Growing Smarter Survey was undertaken by MD staff in 2006 to gather public input regarding two specific issues related to growth and development. The first was “residential development”, meaning development that is more intense than traditional Country Residential development (more than 32 lots per quarter section). The second issue was the subdivision of farmland. The MD mailed out surveys to every residence in the Municipality and held two open houses. In all 1850 completed surveys were received back. The results were compiled into a report which informed the development of the MDP2010. MDP2010

In 2008 and 2009, a comprehensive review of the MD’s Municipal Development Plan was undertaken. This review was guided by a steering committee made up of local landowners who were given the task of drafting a plan that would guide growth and development in the MD. The MDP2010 outlines several key Principles for Planning. The first of these is Conservation and Focused Development: Conserving natural capital such as our agricultural lands, critical watershed and habitats, but also conserving the quality of life we enjoy today. The undertaking of the GMS was mandated in MDP2010 as one of the strategic plans that would support the initiatives introduced in the MDP. It was suggested that a GMS would give further direction on “principles for growth, desired development patterns across the MD, as well as general parameters on location and types of development considered appropriate.” GMS Survey 2011-2012

In the fall of 2011, the MD launched an informational video on the history of growth in the MD together with an on-line survey and also mailed out paper copies of the survey to all residents of the municipality with the MD newsletter. The video was well received and while the response was not as impressive as it had been in 2006, the MD still received 356 completed surveys which represents a return of almost 4% (A return of 2-4% is considered good for a direct mail piece). The survey asked residents what they liked about where they lived, whether they agreed with how growth and development had taken place around them and about which areas of the MD could, or should, support the most growth. In addition, there were five districts within the MD proposed and respondents were asked to comment on whether they agreed with the proposed boundaries.

Houses near Carmony Golf Course

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3. Our Foothills

“We love what we have here in the MD and want to preserve it while recognizing the importance and inevitability of growth”. The MD of Foothills encompasses a vast and diverse land base from the City of Calgary on the north to the MD of Willow Creek on the south, from the foothills and on the west to on the east. In order to make a strategy more manageable it seems sensible to divide the MD up into smaller pieces, each of which has a somewhat more homogeneous character than the MD itself.

FIGURE 5 - THE FIVE DISTRICTS

The five districts illustrated in Figure 5 were delineated by MD staff based on historic settlement pattern, dominant land uses, physical characteristics, environmental concerns and development opportunities and constraints. It is interesting to note that according to municipal census figures from 1999-2003 while the MD as a whole grew approximately 10% in population, the East District as outlined in the preliminary map grew 8%,

MD of Foothills Growth Management Strategy: What We Heard Page 7 the South Central District grew by 8.5 %, the Central District’s population grew by 18% and the North West District increased by just 3.1% while the South West District’s population actually decreased by 1.2%.

One of the questions we asked in the GMS survey was whether the respondent agreed with the district boundaries as depicted. The results we received indicate broad support for the districts with 91% of respondents who answered this question indicating that they agreed with the districts as presented. There were some though who suggested that the central district is too wide and that it should not go west of Highway 2A or all the way to the river on its east side. While others suggested it should be expanded west into the North West district or east to encompass areas such as Gladys Ridge.

“It is apparent that "growth" policy would tend to favour the Central District as the place for the greatest growth and densest population. This is unfair to those of us who live near the east boundary of the proposed Central District.” “I would put in the East District to avoid 2 large towns in the same district and I believe High River's geography and history would be more suited in the East District.” “I feel a west shift in the central - NW district boundary makes more sense. Land use along the east boundary of the NW district is moving away from traditional agriculture / ranching as residential development increases in this area, concentrating facilities and population density in a way that resembles the central district (although the landscape DOES differ).” In some instances there seemed to be concern with the districts center around “fair representation”.

“More representation by population - unfair to higher density areas” We would like to clarify that these districts are separate and distinct from the seven MD of Foothills’ Councillor divisions which determine representation on Council. These five districts were created to assist with growth management and land use planning and will only be used for those purposes.

Because of the broad support received, it was decided that the districts would remain as presented in the survey with the exception that the central district would be refined to reflect the change in boundaries of the Town of High River as a result of the annexation that came into effect January 1, 2012.

Frank Lake Bird Blind Wilson Coulee Wetland near DeWinton (Image courtesy of Ken Venner)

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The East District

Approximately 20% of the survey responses received were from the East District. Geographically, this district is bordered by Highway #2 on the west, Vulcan County to the east, and the MD of Willow Creek to the south. Its northern border is provided by the Highwood and Bow Rivers.

The land in this district is largely un-fragmented and is home to predominantly agricultural uses, with significant natural resource extraction. It contains the Hamlet of Blackie and features abundant wetlands which include among them Frank Lake – the largest project undertaken by Ducks Unlimited in all of at the time of its construction.i

In the early images from this district we get a sense of an area deeply rooted in farming. Images of farming or bumper crops are common. We also see that the people could be greatly impacted by dramatic events such as fires, dust storms and blizzards. We get a sense of Blackie as a busy centre servicing the surrounding farms.

As our population has become more mobile the necessity of having goods and services close at hand has diminished and the small centres have tended to decline. There is a state-of-the-art grain collection facility in the Hamlet of Blackie today and many acres of un-fragmented farm land surround the hamlet. This district continues to see oil and gas activity, but on a different scale than in the early days of the industry.

Following is what some residents of the East District had to say about their district:

“My district is really beautiful with its agriculture and wildlife near my home, I love the peace and quiet of the country.” “The east district is primarily agricultural which has been beneficial to my farming operation, with an abundance of good quality aquifers.” “We live in a beautiful prairie farmland area with a mountain view, great water and excellent soil.” “My district is mostly rural, with a large community spirit. We are close to all amenities in bigger centres with a small town rural feel.” “My district holds many caring and helpful neighbours and community members. My district is quiet and serene with many opportunities to be engulfed by nature.”

Stacking Prairie Wool West Snow in Blackie, May 1919 Cargill elevator in Blackie, 2011 of Blackie

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The South Central District

Approximately 14.5% of the survey responses received were from the South Central District. The South Central District is probably the most diverse of the districts. It lies south of the Sheep River, generally between Highways 2 and 22 and borders the MD of Willow Creek to the south.

This district’s predominant land uses are a mix of farming and ranching, with some natural resource extraction and growing country residential development and recreational opportunities. It is influenced by Highway 2 which forms part of its east border and affords quick access the majority of the area. The Highwood and Sheep Rivers run through and adjacent to this district providing scenic vistas, wildlife habitat and recreation opportunities.

The land of the South Central District is rich with history and natural capital. Images from the past show Cayley as a thriving centre for the area with many businesses. According to Under the Chinook Arch, a local history book, Cayley once supported a general store, drugstore, hardware store, meat market, bank, lumber yard and hotel.ii

Today the hamlet has more structures and significantly more trees, but there is only one business located in town. The Cayley Store is today’s equivalent of a general store with a post office and liquor store. In the past, dwellings in the hamlet were simple and utilitarian. Today, homes here are modest in comparison to some areas of the MD, but they are significantly bigger than the dwellings of the past.

Following is what some residents of the South Central District had to say about their district:

“Our district is a combination of agricultural and country residential which allows for a harmonious balance.” “Primarily Agriculture, but with numerous acreages now in the area, makes it difficult to be a large farm/ranch amongst numerous people.” “Great views. Good roads. Central to great towns and City.” “My district contains a bit of all 5 district attributes: Close to the city and town; Farming and ranching; Historical locations; and Rolling land” “Close to main highways & easy commute to High River, Okotoks or Calgary. Lots of open areas and great views of the mountains.”

Museum of the Highwood collection

Picnic on the Highwood 1900-1903 Railway Street Cayley, 1930 Railway Street Cayley, 2011

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The South West District

Approximately 2.5% of the survey responses received were from the South West District. The South West District is bordered on the west by Kananaskis Improvement District and on the south by MD’s of Ranchlands and Willow Creek. Its northern border is the Sheep River and its eastern border is aligned with Highway 22 north of Longview.

One of the most significant characteristics of this district is its large proportion of leased land; this district is predominantly ranching country with natural resource extraction and some logging. It contains significant headwaters and is home to a variety of wildlife including: wolves, black bears, grizzly bears, deer, elk, moose, cougars and coyotes.

Images from the history of this district show a strong ranching tradition that began about the 1880’s with the arrival of some of the large commercial ranching operations including the historic Bar U Ranch. There is a wealth of material on the early years on the big ranches. Many accounts of life at this time make references to interactions with the Stoney people who helped out on the ranches during times of the year when extra manpower was needed. Another industry that has a long history in the South West District is natural resource extraction; beginning very early on with coal mining, and later drilling for oil.

The land in this district remains largely un-fragmented and appears today much as it did a century ago. Many of the landowners are long-time (multi-generational) landowners or leaseholders and embrace the ranching heritage and culture;

Following is what some residents of the South West District had to say about their district:

“Primarily agricultural - lots of acreages. We live in the middle of gas & oil field development so there is lots of activity in this area” “My district is primarily agricultural which enables me to operate my farm unhampered.” "I was born and raised in this area- and it will forever be my home. With that said, it's hard seeing good agriculture land being split up for acreages. What a waste." “Peace, quiet & beauty of the area. People interested in conservation.” “It was peaceful & beautiful, not so now. Stop building on our wildlife's land.”

Bar U Ranch Branding 1919- Main Street Longview “Little New Main Street Longview, 2011 1920 York”, 1938

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The North West District

Approximately 33% of the survey responses received were from the North West District. This district is in the north west corner of the MD, it is bordered on the south by the Sheep River, on the west by the Kananaskis Improvement District and on the north by and the Tsuu T’ina nation. This district contains important natural areas and spectacular views and is home to significant wildlife populations and critical headwaters of the Sheep and Bow Rivers.

Images from the past of this District paint a picture of a diverse and vibrant area. The Priddis-Millarville Fair and the Millarville races were established early in the 1900’s by which time Priddis was already home to an indoor curling rink. Alberta’s oil and gas industry was born at on the edge of this district. There was also coal mining, logging and agriculture in this district. The famous ranch hand and former slave of African descent, John Ware established a ranch in this area.

Today the North West District is still home to the historic hamlets of Priddis and Millarville but also has a new Hamlet and golf course at . The District currently contains a mix of agriculture lands, natural resource extraction and country residential development. In spite of all the development the area seems to maintain a quaint rural feel, partly due to the ability of the significant forestation to camouflage much of the development that has occurred.

Following is what some residents of the North West District had to say about their district:

“My district allows me to enjoy the wildness of the area but allows growth within reason. Primarily poor crop land and forested areas – mainly ranching - allows for smaller acreages to "fit in" without spoiling the area and gives people the opportunity to enjoy country living.” “Even though we are close to the city, my district still feels rural. The area is beautiful.” “Close to the City yet it feels very rural with good road access. There are beautiful vistas of the Rockies and lots of potential for development without changing the character.” “My district has a good mixture of productive agricultural lands, wildlife habitat, watershed riparian lands, and small communities.” “Within my district are regionally and, one could argue, nationally important ecosystems such as Aspen Parkland and numerous important headwaters. Wildlife abounds, as do dark skies, wetlands and vistas. Proximity to Calgary is more a curse than a blessing!”

Coal Tipple at Turner Valley, 1914-17 St James Anglican Church, St James Anglican Church, Priddis in 1904 Priddis in 2010

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The Central District

Approximately 30% of the survey responses received were from the Central District. The Central District, as the name implies, is located in the central portion of the MD. It is bordered on the north by the City of Calgary and extends south along Highway 2 gradually narrowing until it ends just south of High River.

This district has seen the most significant development of all the five districts; it has substantial country residential development, contains five golf courses and is home to Spruce Meadows, a world class equestrian facility. This district surrounds the towns of High River and Okotoks and contains the Hamlets of , DeWinton and Aldersyde.

The images from the history of this district like the other districts of the MD illustrate a history of ranching and farming with close ties to the land and vulnerability to natural events such as blizzards, dust storms and floods.

Today the Central District is serviced by one of the busiest highways in Canada. Highway 2 is part of a major international transportation corridor that runs from Mexico to Alaska. This district also contains the Highway 2A Industrial corridor that will be the focus for industrial development in the MD and which is already home to Cargill meats, Western Bio-diesel and Sprung Instant Structures to name a few. These factors, among others are creating pressure for further development of this area.

Following is what some residents of the Central District had to say about their district:

“A mixture of country residential and agriculture, with country residential becoming more prevalent, due to the close proximity to Calgary. Still many natural areas which need to be respected and considered when development is requested.” “It’s close to the city of Calgary and should be developed with some commercial developments along the highway 2 and residential between Okotoks and Calgary” “My district provides us with a perfect country residential living environment; close to all amenities within just a few miles while retaining all the enjoyment of country living i.e. privacy, quiet, a view, fresh air etc.” “The Western portion of the central district where we live has breathtaking foothill and mountain scenery and an abundance of wildlife corridors running through it.” “My district has required access to infrastructure which positions it to be the growth engine for development in the MD.”

Cowboys on Domburg Ranch, Settlers travel near Okotoks pre- 1910 Commuters travel near Okotoks Dunbow Area 1886 2010

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4. Building On Our Past - A Vision Forward

One of the tools that is commonly used in growth planning is the study of settlement geography. This branch of geography examines where population clusters arise and what sustains them; conversely it may also seek to determine why certain areas are not settled.

Traditionally there have been three recognized patterns of settlement: linear, nuclear and dispersed. Linear settlements tended to form along rivers, streams and migration routes (first trails, later roads and railways). An example of this is how settlement sprouted up along the old (more or less aligned with what is now Highway 2) or along the Highwood River. Cluster settlements tended to occur at crossroads, at river mouths, or near opportunities for commerce or employment. For example High River was established at a crossing point along the Highwood River. Dispersed settlement has no central point or focus. A good example of a dispersed settlement pattern can be seen looking at how homesteads were claimed by quarter section. This type of pattern lends itself to agriculture, where a critical mass of land is required for each operation.

One of the questions we asked in the GMS survey explored our residents’ views on the validity of this exercise asking them if they thought how an area developed in the past should influence how it continues to grow into the future. 68% of those surveyed said yes it should, while 31% said it should not and 1% did not answer the question. Some of the opinions expressed were as follows:

“If you are asking should future development be placed beside existing development, in most cases, yes. But land use amendments for development, in our opinion must respect established wildlife corridors and habitats. Sometimes, not always, suggested development just isn't appropriate for an environmentally sensitive area.” “Settlement in the past conformed to the natural lay of the land. Farmland and rangeland need to be preserved as it cannot be replaced.” “I feel we should always remember the past, yet progress is inevitable. We need to concentrate on keeping further development as "Green" as possible. Wild life habitat must be preserved!” “The heritage of the district is important to preserve, BUT we need to keep in mind that the future needs to be significantly different from the past.” “There is a lot of history in this district that carries into the present e.g. Millarville racetrack, ranching, schoolhouse, that we do not want to lose and become part of Calgary” :( “The historical settlement (development) indicates the desires of the population to select a particular area. It is reasonable to assume that the same desires will remain for further growth.” “Absolutely not, whoever came up with this asinine idea is probably a rancher or farmer or council person who is trying to stop subdivision, and thinking somehow they can link some event in the past 100 years to set policy now. It is the same old story about a MD council run by ranchers, farmers and tree huggers, while being lost in the fog of the past. There is nothing wrong with history, and historical events, and preserving that, but that doesn't mean making up artificial restraints for development in the name of some past settlement pattern, how incredibly stupid!” “Development should grow where the density exists (outward from the hamlets and towns). It's a more efficient use of infrastructure and enables long term planning.”

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“We can learn from the past, taking into consideration the management of the water and the land. Some areas have been developed in good ways, others perhaps inappropriately ... dense growth and industrial growth is more appropriate in some areas and not in others.” “Because early settlers didn't have our ability to make wide-ranging or dramatic changes to their landscape, past settlement was grounded in what the land would logically and sustainably support. It's all about responsible stewardship. We may have lost that intimate connection to the land that agriculture and ranching automatically instilled in the early settlers, but we can still benefit from the knowledge they gained through their experience, by examining their land use decisions when planning ours. History can help us to avoid causing irreversible damage to the country that we love and want to hand down to our grandchildren.” “It is always honourable to "attempt" to maintain and district's connection to its history and make every effort to protect and preserve its important natural resources while logically allowing development that conforms to each district's unique character.”

Millarville Race Track 1912

Millarville Race Track 2012

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5. Our Future

Of course the purpose of the Growth Management Strategy is to give us a plan for the future. We want to look at where growth might be supported or encouraged and where it might be discouraged – or at least certain types of growth might be discouraged. The Growing Smarter survey and the Growth Management Survey asked our residents to think about what types of growth should be encouraged in the MD and where that growth might best be directed or focused. Where Should the Majority of Growth Occur?

The Growing Smarter survey asked residents of the MD where they felt that “residential development” should be located, where “residential development” was defined as higher density development in excess of 32 lots per quarter section. 48% of respondents indicated that they felt residential development should be located adjacent to existing urban centres such as the City of Calgary and the Town of Okotoks; while 8% indicated it should be located adjacent to hamlets; and 33% indicated that this type of development should be evaluated on a site specific basis based on all the information gathered at the public hearing including the public input by area landowners. 11% of respondents said that they felt that this type of development was not appropriate anywhere in the MD.

Domburg Ranch, Dunbow Area 1890’s Heritage Pointe Golf Club

The Growing Smarter survey also asked residents under what circumstances “residential development” should be permitted. The results were as follows: 27% indicated that it should only occur in areas that are fully serviced with piped water and wastewater; 25% said that it should be allowed in areas where comprehensive growth management plans have been approved in conjunction with the adjacent urban municipality; 22% said it should be in areas where a long range plan has been adopted by Council; 11% thought it was most appropriate as a buffer or transition zone between urban development and country residential development; 9% said only in conjunction with a recreational component such as a golf course; while 6% said under no circumstance.

The Growth Management Survey asked residents where in the MD growth should occur. In this case, the type of growth was not specified, residents were just asked to indicate which of the five proposed districts could support the most growth (they could choose more than one). Overall, the central district was chosen as the most appropriate location with approximately 68% of respondents indicating that the Central District was one of the districts that should support the majority of the MD’s future growth. The Central District also received 47% of the overall votes. The North West and South Central Districts were the second and third most popular answers with 19% and 17% respectively. Residents of the central district itself were only slightly less enthusiastic about accommodating the majority of the MD’s growth with 60% of respondents choosing the Central District as one of the districts where the majority of growth should occur. Chart 1, below shows how

MD of Foothills Growth Management Strategy: What We Heard Page 16 this question was answered overall and by district. These results would seem to agree with the findings of the Growing Smarter survey where 40% of respondents indicated that higher density development forming a buffer or transition zone between urban development and the surrounding country residential and agricultural areas would be the type of development best suited to areas adjacent to urban areas within and bordering the MD.

Chart 1 – Which district in the MD is able to accommodate the most growth?

250 90 North West 80 District 200 70 Central District 60

150 50 East District 40

100 30 South Central 20 District 50 10 South West 0 District North West Central East District South South West 0 District District Residents Central District All Districts Residents Residents District Residents Overall Residents

(Chart shows overall responses and then responses broken down by district respondent lives in)

In addition to indicating where they felt the majority of growth should occur, the survey asked residents to indicate the reasons for their choice or choices. Some of the responses were as follows:

Why the Central and NW Districts?

“The land is already fractured into smaller acreages in the 3 to 7 acre range and agriculture is not really seen in these districts as the land is much too valuable being this close to the city of Calgary not to develop.” “Central is best opportunity due to Highways 2 & 2A as well as future heavy commuter rail along the CPR corridor. The North West is viable along the 22X corridor as well. Requires the least amount of capital investment and the best use of resources due to population density with these 2 regions.” Why the Central District?

“Because it's already there and the highway infrastructure to support growth is weighted in that district. This district also contains the MDs larger communities.” “It keeps growth to the #2 corridor and slows urban encroachments on primarily agricultural areas.”

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Why the Central and South Central Districts?

“These are the two districts with the larger towns (High River and Okotoks) as well as they are on the path of the number two highway to give best traffic flow.” “Try to keep the development along the transportation corridors and provide water and sewer for these areas to reduce the possibilities of pollution of water ways and groundwater. Keep the development of acreages and industry from spreading in an unorganized manner.” “It is simple, that is where most of the new people want to settle.” Why the North West District?

“Development can be hidden in the hills and trees and the land is not suitable for most farming.” Why the North West and South West Districts?

“Better scope for tourism and recreation activities.” Why the East and South West Districts?

“Because they have been neglected for too long.” Why the South Central District?

“If there has to be growth I would say south central. It is one of the larger areas and could absorb more growth without changing it too much.” Why the East District?

“Without help and consideration by the MD - the East District is at risk of further erosion and needs help to attract a big business, manufacturing etc. Use the rail line and promote the benefits of lower cost lands etc.” Why All of the Districts Equally?

“It should be accommodated in ALL of the districts; I do not believe there should be different restrictions for different districts.”

Which Districts are Able to Support Growth, and How Much Growth?

In addition to asking where the majority of growth should occur, the Growth Management Survey asked our residents if they thought their own district could support growth. The results from this question of the survey are represented in Chart 2 on the following page. The majority of respondents from all districts thought their district could support minimal or moderate growth. The South West district had the highest percentage of residents who did not think their district could support any growth (~38%) and the Central district had the highest percentage of residents who believed that their district could support a lot of growth (~20%). It is interesting to note that the South Central District and the North West district each had approximately 20% of their residents responding that they did not feel that their district could support growth.

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Chart 2 – Do you feel that your district is able to support growth?

50 45 (Shown as actual number of responses) 40 35 30 No 25 Yes, Minimal 20 Yes, Moderate 15 10 Yes, Lots 5 Blank 0 Central East South South North District District Central West West District District District

50 (Shown as percentage of responses from district) 45 40 35 30 No 25 Yes, Minimal 20 Yes, Moderate 15 Yes, Lots 10 5 Blank 0 Central East South South North District District Central West West District District District

Residents of the Central District said:

“The character of the district has already changed irreversibly. Farmland, grassland, and wide open space are things that never come back.” “I'm fighting a feeling of NIMBYism here! as I love my rural setting - but appreciate that I have no right to deny others the joy I get from waking up in the country but enjoying the amenities of the city on my doorstep. Ideally we should all live in high density housing in town, and turn the land over to agriculture / ranching / conservation and leisure uses.” “Growth can be challenging but growth brings new opportunities, new people, new communities and new industry. As long as we continue to be good stewards of the environment and maintain our water resources, we should encourage as much growth as possible.”

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Residents of the East District said:

“Agriculture should have high priority in our area due to the loss of agricultural lands in other areas of the MD because of growth.” “We have primarily agriculture land, but are seeing increasing numbers of acreages. When an acreage is approved it should be in an area with the least impact on agriculture. Acreages are improving diversity in the area and increasing the population making schools and business more viable.” “I would like to see development in an orderly manner focusing the development of homes and acreages with centralized water and waste to these homes to keep the possibilities of pollution to a minimum. It is most important to maintain the agricultural lands and reduce the impact of development on these farmland. Some industrial attached to the hamlets to sustain the development of these communities is also important. These should be long term responsible industries that will enhance the areas and retain the wages taxes and a settled population in these areas.” Residents of the South Central District said:

“There has already been too much growth.” “I support growth if it is done in an environmentally responsible way. I feel that our agricultural practices need to be put at the forefront of decision making as it would be a shame to use up all of the usable land for acreages.” “Major growth can be supported if the right decisions concerning infrastructure and planning are followed through.” Residents of the South West District said:

“Not the way growth is currently managed. I will say again that I see the current trend in growth is for short term profit and not sustainability.” “With planned development with environmental controls both for developments and farmers the area can support moderate growth. However there has to be protection for ranchers to assure they will have the rights they need to farm and protection from nearby developments from trying to stop them from standard farming practices. People moving into a farming area should be required to sign a release to farmers in the area that they understand the where they are moving too.” “The corridor for ranching and wildlife is of utmost importance. Population/growth should follow the #2 Hwy all the way to Nanton and Claresholm. Keep them all central and near the services they want and expect.” Residents of the North West District said:

“The reason we moved to the country was to get away from the city and "growth". There is room for development in this area but I do not support it.” “Because of the nature of our district - headwaters to many rivers and creeks, we have to be careful what we change and develop so as not to upset the ecological balance of our land, or the historical settlement pattern. Large scale development here would not be beneficial to these ends.”

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“Yes, there is significant opportunity to support growth in the area, particularly on the hillsides that are of limited agricultural benefit. Having said that, hillside development can have its own challenges such as drainage/erosion issues down the slope or spoiling the viewscape of others. However, these can easily be addressed through proper development guidelines, density and engineering solutions.”

South West District cowboys Hamlet of Priddis – Commercial building

Bridge on Hwy 552 between Central Central District Industrial building District and East District

Farming in East District South Central District from Hwy 2

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6. Summary – What Did We Learn? What Do Our Residents Value?

It was evident from the responses that were received to the Growing Smarter survey that there are a number of characteristics of the MD that are highly valued. These can be summarized as follows:

 Productive agricultural lands;  The environment, particularly river valleys and wildlife corridors;  Country ambience, wide open spaces and views;  Clean water.

These same values were apparent in the responses provided to the Growth Management survey.

Preservation of productive agricultural lands is important to our residents.

“It is most important to maintain the agricultural lands and reduce the impact of development on these farmland.” “My district is wholly agricultural and we are a 5th generation family with a farming and agricultural background. We love our prairies which is our home and our livelihood.” The protection of wildlife, wildlife habitat and natural areas including riparian areas and waterways is also valued.

“We need to preserve the landscape and ensure that wildlife can continue to thrive. We also need to ensure that the water resources can support the development that occurs.” “My district has a variety of indigenous species of flora & fauna which are beautiful, important & worth preserving for future generations.” Scenic vistas and beautiful natural landscapes are important to our residents and should be preserved for future generations to enjoy.

“We need to keep the beauty that is present. We picked this location to live, because nature was present and not destroyed.” Rural character is valued by our residents and should be protected and preserved.

“I would like to maintain the rural and agricultural character of the area I am in.” “My district is primarily agriculture and we love the clean open area of country living. It is a lifestyle that is rare without encumbrance of heavy traffic, noise and pollution.” Water is an important resource that should not be wasted. Growth should be limited by the availability of water and water conservation should be promoted.

“Continue with water conservation and do not tax existing areas where water sources are limited.” “Conservation of water has got to be a top priority. Each residence and business should know how much water they use and have a plan for conservation.”

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“Only a small amount of growth in the NW district should be allowed to secure the aquifers and watersheds for future generations.” Planned and managed growth is desired by our residents. They don’t want to see more ad-hoc development.

“Don’t want to see development without controls, design guidelines and / or designated land use areas.” “Growth must be regulated carefully by the MD. Densely populated areas must be carefully planned and regulated.” “Strong and clear planning.” “Yes to some extent although growth will naturally be much faster and as long as strong controls and planning are in place that should be ok.” “I would like to see a long term development plan put in place to guide future development rather than managing growth on what appears to be an ad hoc basis.” Having adequate infrastructure in place to support development is important to our residents. They also believe that developers should pay their fair share of the costs of development.

“The transportation arteries, water systems, sewage systems need to be of upmost concern. When new residential and industrial areas are built it should be the responsibility of the developers to upgrade these systems before they are occupied.” “The MD should not put the cart before the horse, essential services and infrastructure need to be decided and developed before much more growth is allowed. This will prevent serious negative consequences in the future.”

Millarville Market, 2011 Blackie Seed Cleaning Plant Wetland area in the East District What Are Residents of the MD Concerned About?

In addition to learning what our residents valued, both surveys gave us information about what was concerning them. In the Growing Smarter Survey a significant number of respondents indicated a concern about increased higher density development in the MD as well as increased water use and sewage disposal that comes with that development. They also mentioned the need for comprehensive planning and a concern about “sprawl”. In the Growth Management Survey responses there were still concerns about increasing density in the MD. Our residents stated concerns about increased traffic, noise and crime and other potential impacts that can go hand in hand with development.

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“With the increase of population comes the crime, lack of respect needed to keep the beauty we once had. Speed on roads, garbage dumped in fields and ditches takes away from our natural beauty.” “Would like to see more policing and law enforcement as crime from the City is spreading to our district.” “Roads are already too busy. Well water is a major concern and we need to keep enough water for our livestock. The small acreages want to maintain their yards like city yards and that wastes too much water.” “very crowded, not the traditional country living because of increased development allowed.” “Too much traffic and noise … No more growth” “Too much subdivision. No plan for water to these subdivisions, affecting existing wells”. People are concerned about commercial and industrial development moving into the MD. They believe large scale retail or industrial development should be limited.

“We have just residential and farms in our area and should stay that way....we don't want any retail type development as that would totally destroy the feel of the rural community. Back yard commercial is fine as long as it is kept mainly in barns or shops. NO retail though.” “Do not want to see increased traffic, commercial/industrial developments or high density residential areas except where they already exist.” People are concerned about the fragmentation of agricultural lands and the loss of arable land to country residential development.

“The MD must consider where growth will be promoted and where we will protect our land. Yes, an increase in tax dollars is tempting for the immediate future but how will we sustain our way of life in the future if we waste agricultural land.” “I would like to see a fundamental change in how we view and manage development. Perhaps the MD Council should have a satellite image of arable land in Southern Alberta and base their development decisions on how much arable land we are losing. By arable I mean the ability to GROW food.” “Again, I believe there is a lot of development and while some areas can support this, we need to ensure that it is on land that does not grow crops - as my mother would say - who's going to feed us?” Our residents are concerned about building in floodplains.

“I don't want to see building permits granted in flood plain areas.”

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7. Next Steps - What will we do now?

Phase 1 of the Growth Management Strategy Project has focused on finding out what our residents value, what concerns them, where they believe growth can be accommodated and where they do not believe any more growth can be supported. We have heard from each district in the MD and have learned that while in some ways the districts and the people who inhabit them are different, in some ways they are very much alike.

The objective for Phase 2 of the Project will be to design a strategy that will enable us to protect and preserve those aspects of the MD that our residents value, while still supporting growth and development. The MD’s growth strategy will use the information we have gathered, together with the vision laid out in the MDP2010 to develop some growth related goals. It will also examine the opportunities that exist that will assist us in achieving those goals and the challenges that could interfere. Finally, the strategy will lay out some tasks that we will undertake in the future to work toward achieving the goals we have set.

It is anticipated that the Phase 1 document will be accepted by the MD of Foothills Council before the end of 2012 at which time work will begin immediately on Phase 2 with a target date for completion in Spring 2013.

The South West District along Highway 22

i White, J.S. and S.E. Bayley. “Restoration of a Canadian prairie wetland using agricultural and municipal wastewater: Adaptive management and cooperative conservation at Frank Lake, Alberta”. Environmental Management 24(1999): 25- 37. ii Cayley Women's Institute, Under the Chinook Arch: A History of Cayley and Surrounding Areas. Cayley,Alberta, 2007.

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