Brazeau County Tourism Development Node Area Structure Plan September 22, 2008 Prepared For: Brazeau County Prepared By: TABLE OF CONTENTS 1 INTRODUCTION .......................................................................................................1 1.1 Background .....................................................................................................1 1.2 Purpose of the Area Structure Plan...............................................................2 2 Study area profile.....................................................................................................3 2.1 The Brazeau Market Region ...........................................................................3 2.2 The Tourism Node...........................................................................................5 2.2.1 Location.........................................................................................................5 2.2.2 Physical Characteristics ................................................................................7 2.2.3 Environmentally Sensitive Areas and Hazard Lands.....................................8 2.2.4 Existing Land Uses and Developments.........................................................8 2.2.5 Oil and Gas Infrastructure .............................................................................9 2.2.6 Highways, Roads and Access.......................................................................9 2.2.7 Historical Resources....................................................................................11 2.3 Existing Local Services ................................................................................11 2.3.1 Water...........................................................................................................11 2.3.2 Sewage........................................................................................................11 2.3.3 Waste Management ....................................................................................11 2.3.4 Recycling.....................................................................................................11 2.3.5 Electrical Power...........................................................................................11 2.3.6 Natural Gas .................................................................................................11 2.3.7 Communications..........................................................................................12 2.3.8 Emergency Services....................................................................................12 2.4 Existing Land Management..........................................................................13 2.4.1 Fur Management Licences..........................................................................13 2.4.2 Water Development License .......................................................................13 2.4.3 Forest Management ....................................................................................13 2.4.4 Mountain Pine Beetle Action Plan ...............................................................14 2.4.5 Provincial Recreation Area..........................................................................14 2.4.6 Yellowhead County ...................................................................................14 3 Market Demand ......................................................................................................16 3.1.1 Camper Market............................................................................................16 3.1.2 ATV Market..................................................................................................19 i 3.1.3 Four Season Mixed Use Market..................................................................20 3.1.4 Market Summary .........................................................................................21 4 ASP Concept and guidelines................................................................................23 4.1 Regional Development Concept ..................................................................23 5 Brazeau County Tourism Development Node AREA STRUCTURE PLAN CONCEPT.......................................................................................................................26 5.1 Design intent..................................................................................................26 5.2 Planning Framework .....................................................................................26 5.2.1 Municipal Government Act ..........................................................................26 5.2.2 Municipal Development Plan.......................................................................26 5.2.3 Intermunicipal Planning ...............................................................................27 5.3 Development Objectives...............................................................................27 5.4 Land Use Concept.........................................................................................27 5.4.1 Camping ......................................................................................................30 5.4.2 Cabins .........................................................................................................30 5.4.3 Lodge ..........................................................................................................30 5.4.4 Boat Launches ............................................................................................30 5.4.5 Equestrian Facility .......................................................................................30 5.4.6 Tourism Commercial ...................................................................................31 5.4.7 Recreation Open Space ..............................................................................31 5.4.8 Protected Area.............................................................................................31 5.4.9 Transportation .............................................................................................31 5.5 Utility Services...............................................................................................31 5.5.1 Storm Water Drainage.................................................................................31 5.5.2 Sanitary Sewage .........................................................................................32 5.5.3 Water Distribution........................................................................................32 5.5.4 Shallow Utilities ...........................................................................................32 5.6 Development Sequence................................................................................32 5.7 Land Use Districting .....................................................................................32 5.7.1 Permitted Uses............................................................................................32 5.7.2 Discretionary Uses ......................................................................................33 5.8 Development Standards ...............................................................................33 5.9 Design Guidelines .........................................................................................33 5.10 Firesmart and Emergency Response Plan..................................................33 ii 5.10.1 Vegetation and Fire Fuel Management ...................................................33 5.10.2 Structural Options....................................................................................34 5.10.3 Infrastructure ...........................................................................................34 5.10.4 Water Supply ...........................................................................................34 5.10.5 Utilities.....................................................................................................35 5.11 Development Requirements.........................................................................35 5.11.1 Permission from Alberta Tourism Leasing...............................................35 5.11.2 Historic Resources Impact Assessment ..................................................35 5.11.3 Natural Environmental Assessment ........................................................35 5.11.4 Phase I Site Assessment.........................................................................35 5.11.5 Geotechnical Report and Groundwater Analysis.....................................35 6 Summary.................................................................................................................36 7 Appendix.................................................................................................................37 7.1 Appendix 1: Intercept Survey Results Summary .......................................38 7.2 Appendix 2: ATV Users Consultation..........................................................39 7.3 Appendix 3: Regional Tourism Operators / Contacts................................40 7.4 Appendix 4: Brazeau County Campground Information Matrix................41 7.5 Appendix 5: Design Guidelines ...................................................................42 FIGURES Figure 1: Brazeau Market Region .....................................................................................4 Figure 2: Brazeau County Tourism Development Node Area Context .............................6 Figure