County of Northern Lights Municipal Development Plan and Land Use Bylaw Note Those making use of this office consolidation of the Municipal Development Plan are reminded that all amendments in force as of January 24, 2012 have been included for convenience only. The original Bylaw (No. 10-6 -270) and amending Bylaws should be consulted for purposes of interpreting and applying the policies of the Municipal Development Plan. Table of Contents 1.0 Introduction 1 1.1 Preamble 1 1.2 Municipal Government Act Requirements 1 1.3 Purpose of the Plan 1 1.4 Interpretation 2 1.5 Context 3 1.6 Land Use 5 1.7 Water 7 1.8 Council’s Strategic Plan 2009.2012 8 1.9 Economic 0evelopment Strategic Plan 8 1.10 Municipal 0evelopment Plan 8 2.0 Process, Principles and Vision 10 2.1 Municipal 0evelopment Plan Planning Process 10 2.2 Strengths1 2hemes and Guiding Principles 10 2.3 ounty 4ision 11 3.0 General Development Strategy 12 3.1 General 0evelopment Policies 12 4.0 Agriculture 15 4.1 Ob6ectives 15 4.2 Agriculture Policies 15 4.3 onfined 7eeding Operations 17 5.0 Residential Development 19 5.1 Ob6ectives 19 5.2 ountry Residential 0evelopment Policies 19 5.3 08elling Units Per Lot 22 6.0 Commerce and Industry 23 6.1 Ob6ectives 23 6.2 ommercial 0evelopment Policies 23 6.3 Industrial 0evelopment Policies 24 7.0 Hamlets and Rural Communities 27 7.1 Ob6ectives 27 7.2 9amlets and Rural ommunities Policies 27 8.0 Environment and Recreation 29 8.1 Ob6ectives 29 8.2 Environmental Protection Policies 29 8.3 Ground Water :uality and the Grimsha8 Gravels 31 8.4 Environmental Reserve1 Municipal Reserve and onservation Easements 32 8.5 7ireSmart and Environmental Revie8s 32 8.6 Recreation and Open Space Policies 33 9.0 Transportation and Municipal Servicing 35 9.1 Ob6ectives 35 9.2 2ransportation Policies 36 County of Northern Lights Table of Contents Municipal Development Plan Bylaw #10- 1-270 February, 2012 9.3 Municipal Servicing Policies 37 9.4 Solid Waste Management Policies 38 10.0 ro8n Land 40 10.1 Ob6ectives 40 10.2 ro8n Land Policies 40 11.0 Intermunicipal Relations 41 11.1 Ob6ectives 41 11.2 Intermunicipal Relations Policies 41 12.0 Monitoring, Review And Implementation 43 12.1 Monitoring 43 12.2 Revie8 43 Tables 2able 1: Recent Population and 08elling ount 9istory 4 2able 2: Subdivision 9istory 4 Maps 7ollo8ing Page Map 1: Municipal ontext 3 Map 2: Generalized Existing Land Use 5 Map 3: Approved Plans in Effect 5 Map 4: 7uture Land Use oncept 11 Map 5: Soil lassification 14 County of Northern Lights Table of Contents Municipal Development Plan Bylaw #10- 1-270 February, 2012 1.0 INTRODUCTION 1.1 PREAMBLE 2he Municipal 0evelopment Plan is the primary planning policy document for use at the municipal level. It is intended to provide a frame8ork for the ongoing development of the ounty of Northern Lights. 2his Plan replaces the 1998 Municipal 0evelopment Plan and its predecessor1 the General Municipal Plan that 8as adopted in 1985. 2he preparation of this Municipal 0evelopment Plan has been motivated by a number of factors: 1.1.1 2he current Municipal 0evelopment Plan 8as approved in 1998 and needs updating to reflect ouncil)s Strategic Plan1 a recently completed ? ommunity 4ision Survey”1 current land use conditions1 conform to the recently approved Alberta Land Ste8ardship Act and the Provincial Land Use 7rame8ork1 and to provide direction for future gro8th and development. 1.1.2 A Aoint 0evelopment Agreement (A0AC bet8een the ounty and the 2o8n of Peace River has been signed1 a planning study named the Weberville 9igh8ay orridor Area oncept Plan (A PC is being prepared1 and an annexation bet8een the ounty and the 2o8n of Peace River may be considered. 2he purpose of the A0A and associated A P is to serve as an alternative to annexation. 2he lands involved in the A0A and A P 8ill require long range planning direction and coordination 8ith current services and development. 1.1.3 2he ounty has experienced a significant increase in demand for multiple lot country residential development. 2his1 combined 8ith rural lifestyles1 has resulted in changes in the ounty)s agricultural area that need to be recognized by formulating ne8 policies to deal 8ith the interface of agricultural operations 8ith country residential developments. 1.1.4 2he ounty recognizes a need to ensure that its land use and development policies reflect the priorities and desires of its residents1 including the need to address 8atershed preservation1 the conservation of agricultural land1 to maintain the integrity of industrial nodes and formulate sustainable development practices. 1.1.5 2he ounty has completed a ?State of the Aquatic Environment Report” (Aquality Environmental onsulting1 2009C1 8hich examines the condition of the Peace River1 its tributaries and all other ma6or lakes and streams. 2he research1 analysis and conclusions of this report informed the policies of this Municipal 0evelopment Plan. 1.2 MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT ACT REQUIREMENTS 2his Municipal 0evelopment Plan has been prepared in accordance 8ith the requirements of Section 632(3C of the Municipal Government Act. 1.3 PURPOSE OF THE PLAN 2he purpose of this Municipal 0evelopment Plan is to provide clear direction for the ounty)s County of Northern Lights Page 1 Municipal Development Plan Bylaw #10- 1-270 February, 2012 ouncil and Administration. 2he Plan is intended to guide gro8th and development of the ounty by: 1.3.1 0efining the vision1 principles1 ob6ectives1 and policies of the ounty 8ith respect to planning mattersD 1.3.2 Minimizing the occurrence of incompatible land usesD and 1.3.3 Providing support and direction for the administration of the Land Use Eyla81 and the preparation of other statutory planning documents. 2he Municipal 0evelopment Plan1 in addition to applicable Provincial legislation1 8ill provide the necessary direction to assist ouncil1 0evelopment Officer1 and the Subdivision and 0evelopment Appeal Eoard in making land use decisionsD provides a foundation for the preparation of more detailed land use plansD is intended to be used in con6unction 8ith the ounty)s Land Use Eyla8 to implement the policies of this PlanD and to inform residents and developers of ounty)s future land use strategy. 1.4 INTERPRETATION 7or the purpose of interpreting this Municipal 0evelopment Plan1 the follo8ing definitions shall apply: 1.4.1 Area oncept Plan means a non.statutory land use plan that provides a comprehensive planning policy frame8ork and a generalized future land use concept designed to guide the preparation of detailed Area Structure Plans undertaken by developersD promote orderly development 8ithin the area encompassed by the plan boundariesD and provide guidance to Administration and ouncil in revie8ing future zoning1 subdivision and development proposals. 1.4.2 Eetter Agricultural Land means those lands in the Agricultural Policy Area 8hich are designated as lass 11 21 3 or 4 by the anada Land Inventory ( LIC Soil apability for Agriculture1 or rated 28F or more by the Rural 7armland Assessment (R7AC or equivalent1 and may be confirmed through site inspections and/or independent soils analysis. Parcel(sC or portion(sC thereof designated LI lass 41 or 8ith a R7A of less than 41F1 may be considered exempt from this definition at the discretion of the 0evelopment Authority if they are ad6acent to non.agricultural land uses1 the proposed use is compatible 8ith ad6acent land uses1 or sub6ect to slope1 configuration1 or size constraints. 1.4.3 Environmentally Sensitive Areas means those areas identified on the 7uture Land Use Map1 and that are generally unsuitable for development due to the presence of excessive or unstable slopes1 the potential for erosion or flooding1 or contain sensitive ecological habitat. 2his definition applies to the Grimsha8 Gravels1 lakeshores1 rivers and other 8ater courses1 river valleys1 forests and vegetation1 unique topographic features1 environmentally hazardous lands1 and important 8ildlife habitat and corridors. County of Northern Lights Page 2 Municipal Development Plan Bylaw #10- 1-270 February, 2012 1.4.4 7armstead Separation means the subdivision of land from an unsubdivided quarter section to accommodate an existing habitable d8elling unit and associated buildings and related improvements. 1.4.5 Outline Plan means a non.statutory land use plan that provides a detailed land use1 transportation and servicing concept for the future subdivision and development of land 8ithin the area encompassed by the plan boundaries. 1.4.6 Rural Municipalities means lear 9ills ounty1 Mackenzie ounty1 and M0 of Peace No. 1351 Northern Sunrise ounty1 and the Paddle Prairie Metis Settlement. 1.4.7 Statutory Plan means a Aoint Plan1 an Intermunicipal 0evelopment Plan1 Municipal 0evelopment Plan1 or Area Structure Plan prepared and adopted in accordance 8ith the MGA. 1.4.8 All other 8ords or expressions shall have the meanings respectively assigned to them in the MGA1 the Subdivision and 0evelopment Regulation1 and the Land Use Eyla8. 1.4.9 With the exception of those lands contained 8ithin an Intermunicipal 0evelopment Plan the policies set forth in this Plan apply to all lands contained 8ithin the corporate boundaries of the ounty. If a situation arises that the applicable Intermunicipal 0evelopment Plan does not address1 the relevant policies contained in this Plan shall apply. 1.4.10 2he land use boundaries identified in this Municipal 0evelopment Plan are considered approximate and not absolute. Any minor ad6ustments or variances that may be necessary to land use policy areas shall not require an amendment to this Municipal 0evelopment Plan. 1.5 CONTEXT 1.5.1 Location 2he ounty is located in the north8est portion of Alberta1 and 8ith approximately 1.7 million hectares under its 6urisdiction it is a vast municipality encompassing rolling hills and beautiful valleys.