PART I | CONTEXT

1 1 | VISION AND STRATEGIC DIRECTION

The Municipal Development Plan (the MDP)’s Vision Statement, Strategic Direction and Growth Management Strategy provide the framework for the preparation of planning policies and a basis for future planning decisions by County Council and Administration. These planning principles reflect the integrated perspective of County Council and County residents and have been prepared to complement the County’s Mission Statement.

ATHABASCA COUNTY MISSION STATEMENT: “Athabasca County is dedicated to providing an excellent level of municipal service, while treating residents and ratepayers with fairness, dignity and respect, and keeping taxes at a reasonable level.”

1.1 | MDP VISION STATEMENT Athabasca County, benefitting from a rural lifestyle and a strong sense of community, provides a wide range of residential, commercial, industrial, institutional, and recreational development opportunities complemented by a high level of infrastructure and services, with a planning focus on agricultural development and environmental stewardship. 1.2 | STRATEGIC DIRECTION A diversified economic base contributes to the County’s ability to provide a high level of municipal services and increased employment possibilities for local residents. Through the implementation of the MDP, the County shall strive to:

 Strengthen residents’ quality of life in hamlets and rural areas.  Increase the amount and variety of housing.  Preserve agricultural land for future generations.  Build on the region’s ‘natural assets’.  Support a balanced approach to development.  Address shared community planning and infrastructure challenges through partnerships.  Support resource development in appropriate locations.

2 2 | ABOUT ATHABASCA COUNTY

Athabasca County is located in the Boreal Region of north central and is within Census Division No. 13. The County is within the Athabasca River basin; a part of the County’s boundary is the Athabasca River. With a total population of 7,869 (2016, ), the County has a population density of 1.3 persons per square kilometer, typical of Alberta’s northern rural municipalities. County offices and public works facilities are located in the Town of Athabasca. The County covers a land area of 6,123 square kilometers with a varied landscape consisting primarily of agricultural lands, forested areas and numerous lakes. The lowest elevations occur in the Athabasca River Valley and the highest are in the southern part of the County. There are no First Nation Reserves within Athabasca County. Similar to many rural municipalities, Athabasca County has a substantial amount of Crown Land, estimated at approximately 46% of the County’s land base.

TABLE 1: TOWNS, VILLAGES, SUMMER VILLAGES AND HAMLETS IN ATHABASCA COUNTY TOWNS/VILLAGES SUMMER VILLAGES HAMLETS Athabasca Atmore Grassland Boyle Island Lake Sunset Beach Breynat Islande Lake South Whispering Hills Colinton Rochester

2.1 | REGIONAL CONTEXT Athabasca County benefits from a variety of economic activities. Although agriculture remains the principal economic driver, the development of natural gas fields and the forestry sector has had a major impact on the County’s economic development. According to the 2016 federal census, the leading industry categories in terms of labour force numbers were (1) agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting; (2) construction; and (3) educational services. Strategically located along Highways 2, 55 and 63, Athabasca County serves as the gateway to Alberta’s three oil sand areas – the Athabasca Oil Sands, Peace River Oil Sands, and Cold Lake Oil Sands and functions as a service hub for the industrial activity taking place in both the Fort McMurray and Wabasca regions. Historically a home to First Nations people, Athabasca County has transformed, over the last century, into a thriving agriculture- based region and, more recently, into the home for resource extraction industries and an economic corridor to northern energy projects. The County of Athabasca was formed in 1959 by combining the Athabasca School Division No. 42 and the Municipal District of Athabasca No. 103. The name Athabasca County was officially adopted in 2009.

3 2.2 | POPULATION GROWTH AND CHANGE Table 2 below highlights the population growth for each five year census period since 1991 and compares the County’s population growth to that of rural Alberta.

TABLE 2: POPULATION TRENDS ATHABASCA ATHABASCA ALBERTA RURAL ALBERTA RURAL YEAR COUNTY COUNTY POPULATION POPULATION (% CHANGE FROM (% CHANGE FROM PREVIOUS CENSUS) PREVIOUS CENSUS) 2016 7869 +2.7% 667,803 +8.6% 2011 7662 +1.2% 614,855 +4.1% 2006 7572 +1.2% 590,499 +3.7% 2001 7521 +0.9% 569,647 +2.8% 1996 7450 +12.5% 554,011 +7.6% 1991 6621 +1.2% (1986-91) 514,660 +5.4% (1986-91) Sources: Statistics Canada (1991 – 2016 Censuses) and the Alberta Agriculture Statistics Yearbook (2016) In general, the population of Athabasca County is employed in agriculture, forestry, mining and oil and gas extraction industries. These industries are catalysts for continued population increase, both permanent and temporary. A 2005 research project by the Northern Alberta Development Council quantified the County’s shadow population (people working in the County and residing there on a temporary basis) at 612. The shadow population is not included in the official population count. According to Statistics Canada 10% of the 2016 population had an Aboriginal identity.

TABLE 3: SEX DEMOGRAPHIC PROFILE SEX PROFILE (2016) MALE FEMALE Alberta 2,039,410 (50.1%) 2,027,765 (49.9%) Athabasca County 4,095 (52%) 3,770 (48%) Source: Statistics Canada Federal Census, 2016 A notable population trend in Athabasca County and across Alberta is the aging of the population, which is marked by an increase in the over 65 age cohort, both absolutely and relatively. In 2016, the County’s senior residents made up 16.8% of the total population, compared to 14.6% in 2011.

TABLE 4: SENIORS’ POPULATION GROWTH SENIORS’ POPULATION GROWTH (65+) YEAR 2001 2006 2011 2016 % CHANGE 2001 - 2016 Athabasca 840 965 1,120 1,320 +57.1% County (11.1%) (12.7%) (14.6%) (16.8%) Alberta 308,400 353,410 405,725 500,215 +62.2% (10.3%) (10.7%) (11.1%) (12.3%) Source: Statistics Canada Federal Census, 2016 2.3 | ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND EMPLOYMENT GROWTH Athabasca County is the gateway to the three oil sand areas – the Athabasca, Peace River and Cold Lake Oil Sands. The Athabasca Oil Sands extend southwards from Fort McMurray towards Athabasca County. Oil sands projects are key catalysts for increased work camp populations and employment growth in the County. Additionally, workers passing through the County en route to the oil sands projects have an impact on the County’s economy. The geographical context of Athabasca County makes it an ideal location for resource extraction-related industries such as fabrication of products destined for oil sands projects.

4 2.4 | POPULATION GROWTH FORECAST To project population growth for Athabasca County a high growth rate of 5%, a medium growth rate of 3% and a low growth rate of 1% were considered. For the purposes of the MDP, the low to medium growth rate scenario is the most relevant forecast to consider as policies are developed.

30,000

25,000

20,000

15,000

10,000

5,000

0 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025 2026 2027 2028 2029 2030 2031 2032 2033 2034 2035 2036 2037 2038 2039 2040

LOW ANNUAL GROWTH (+1%) MEDIUM ANNUAL GROWTH (+3%) HIGH ANNUAL GROWTH (+5% Source: Statistics Canada Federal Census, 2016

FIGURE 1: POPULATION GROWTH FORECAST

2.5 | ENVIRONMENTAL CHARACTERISTICS Athabasca County is within the Boreal Natural Region of Alberta, and straddles two Natural Subregions: the Central Mixedwood in the northwest and southeast, and the Dry Mixedwood in the south, central and eastern portions. The boundaries between the two subregions are not overly rigid, as they both share many climatic, vegetation and soil characteristics. Environmentally significant features are natural areas, objects, and processes that support the long-term maintenance of biological diversity, physical landscape features and/or other natural courses, both locally and within a larger regional context. These features include (but are not limited to) to those described in Table 5 below.

TABLE 5: ENVIRONMENTALLY SIGNIFICANT FEATURES ENVIRONMENTALLY SIGNIFICANT FEATURES Riparian areas, river valleys, and ravines Local food production capacity Sensitive or critical wildlife habitat

Environmentally Significant Areas Natural flood zones Unfragmented agricultural parcels Productive agricultural soils, grazing Groundwater recharge areas Wetlands and their associated uplands lands, and tame forage Large intact blocks of natural vegetation Rivers, lakes, and streams Wildlife movement areas or corridors

Athabasca County has several areas that are designated Environmentally Significant Areas of provincial or national significance. (See Map A3 – Environmental Features). Portions of Athabasca County are within 1 of 4 major sub-watershed regions: The Athabasca River watershed, the Beaver River watershed, the North Saskatchewan River watershed, and the Pembina River watershed (see Map A5 – Watershed Regions).

5 3 | HOW THE MDP WORKS

The Athabasca County Municipal Development Plan replaces the 2002 Athabasca County Municipal Development Plan. The MDP review process began in 2015. In 2017 & 2018 the County sought additional public input on the policy direction within the draft MDP document and made substantial revisions to the draft based on the comments received during these consultation sessions. The MDP incorporates the significant contributions made by members of the community during the consultation process. This MDP has been updated to:  Reflect current demographic trends and economic development priorities;  Ensure consistency with the Bill 21 amendments to the Municipal Government Act R.S.A. 2000, c. M-26, as amended (MGA) and updated supporting Regulations (including the Subdivision and Development Regulation and the Intermunicipal Collaboration Framework Regulation), the Land Stewardship Act, Water For Life Strategy, and Alberta’s Wetland Policy;  Provide clear policy direction for development near the County’s lakes;  Provide clear policy direction for resource-related commercial and industrial developments; and  Protect the rural way of life and the rights of the agricultural community. The 2002 MDP policies that continue to be relevant have been integrated into the new statutory plan. Care has been taken to limit the potential impact on landowners who had previously been granted development approval.

Fundamental ideas developed by Council and Administration that shall guide the MDP’s approach to planning and development in the County.

The role the MDP plays within the County as mandated by the Province and as developed by Council.

A positive, future-oriented statement of what the County strives to be in the future.

A measurable and specific target, end result, or community desire that helps achieve the MDP’s vision.

Deliverable and tangible methods to achieve the goals of the MDP.

6 3.1 | RELATIONSHIP WITH OTHER PLANS AND LEGISLATION The following chart illustrates the hierarchy of Provincial Acts, Plans, and Frameworks that primarily affect planning and development activities in the County. The chart also explains how the Athabasca County MDP fits within the hierarchy, and how the MDP informs other planning and development decision making processes, such as Area Structure Plans, the Land Use Bylaw, and site specific subdivision and development applications.

FIGURE 2: HIERARCHY OF PLANNING LEGISLATION, PLANS, AND BYLAWS

7 3.2 | HOW THE MUNICIPAL DEVELOPMENT PLAN WAS DEVELOPED The Athabasca County MDP is a strategic policy document intended to guide growth and development over the next two decades. It builds on and reflects the visions, goals and objectives of County Council and residents’ input gathered during the MDP preparation period. In addition to the 2002 Athabasca County Municipal Development Plan, the following plans and studies prepared in the intervening years informed the content of this MDP and the growth and development policies of Athabasca County:  Fire Smart Community Mitigation Strategy Update (2010);  Background Report and Opportunity Study (2010) The planning process for the review and update of the Municipal Development Plan included technical analysis and input from a variety of stakeholders. The following describes the consultation activities that were undertaken during the 2015 plan preparation period. NOTIFICATION As part of the project start-up process notification letters providing project information and seeking input were sent to:  The 7 Counties and Municipal Districts that border Athabasca County;  The Town of Athabasca, the Village of Boyle, and the eight Summer Villages within the County;  Alberta Government departments including Alberta Transportation, Alberta Energy Regulator, and Community Health Services;  Aspen View School Division and Northern Lights School Division;  Alta Gas, ATCO Gas, Lac La Biche Natural Gas Co-op, Fortis, Pembina River Natural Gas Co-op, and the Aspen Regional Water Services Commission (ARWSC). PUBLIC CONSULTATION PROGRAM A Public Consultation Program was carried out from March to June 2015. Additional consultation in the form of five Planning Workshops were held throughout the County in July of 2018. Following the workshops, a questionnaire was made available to residents to provide an update on the project and seek additional input. Three Public Open Houses were held in April and May 2019 to present the draft MDP and seek feedback from County residents.

TABLE 6: PUBLIC CONSULTATION PROGRAM SUMMARY METHOD & DATE PARTICIPANTS Project Start-up Meeting with staff (February 2, 2015) 3 Internal Stakeholder Survey (March 2015) 5 Municipal Planning Commission Workshop (March 24, 2015) 12 Public Open Houses/Workshops in Wandering River, Boyle and Town of Athabasca 86 (April 21, 22, and 30, 2015) Key Stakeholder Interviews (April 22 and 30, 2015) 5 Input received from adjacent municipalities 6 Input from public (letter or e-mail) 11 On-line Survey (May – June 2015) letter included with tax notices 243 Public Open Houses held in five communities, April 2016 30-60 at each Planning Workshops held in four communities, July 2018 44 (approximate) attendees Questionnaire responses, July – August 2018 4 Public Open Houses held in Town of Athabasca, Wandering River and Boyle (April 4, 50 (approximate) attendees May 2, May 3, 2019) Questionnaire responses, April – May 2019 20

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