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On October 8, 2024, Administration presented an assessment of the Aggregate Resource Plan (ARP) Stakeholder Advisory Committee Report findings and an updated Terms of Reference (TOR). The report was to address a motion by Council on July 23, 2024, that directed Administration to prepare a revised TOR with an updated project scope, schedule, and budget for approval.
Council approved the revised TOR with the updated project timeline and phasing. Administration has worked to complete the objectives within Phase 2 of the project which includes drafting performance standards, aggregate monitoring bylaw, and amendments to statutory plans.
During the months of February and March, the County hosted a series of public engagement events to request feedback on the proposed documents and ARP initiatives. An online survey was posted on the County’s engagement page between February 12 and March 14. Administration also hosted four information sessions at the following locations:
- February 24, Beisker Community Centre, 6:00 – 8:00 p.m.
- February 26, County Hall, 6:00 – 8:00 p.m.
- February 27, Bearspaw Lion’s Club, 6:00 – 8:00 p.m.
- March 6, Weedon Community Hall, 6:00 – 8:00 p.m.
Administration compiled the feedback received into a “What We Heard Report” and presented it at the April 22, 2025 Council meeting. The “What We Heard Report” can be found here:
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Project Overview
The County’s Municipal Development Plan sets out actions to develop an aggregate extraction policy and management plan (County Plan, pg. 67). In 2023, Council approved the Terms of Reference (TOR) directing County Administration to develop an Aggregate Resource Plan (ARP). The ARP is intended to ensure that aggregate development is appropriately located and developed in a responsible manner that promotes sustainability and minimizes impacts upon residents, adjacent land uses, and the environment. On October 8, 2024, Council approved a revised TOR.
The revised TOR breaks the project into four phases.
Phase 1 involved the establishment of a Stakeholder Advisory Committee representing County residents and aggregate industry representatives.This phase is complete, with the Committee submitting their report in April 2024 that highlighted six recommendations, with another 10 areas that require further consideration. The Committee’s recommendations can be found in the following link: Stakeholder Advisory Committee report.
Subsequently, County Administration hosted an online Survey throughout May and June 2024, requesting feedback on the Committee Report. The “What We Heard Report” was published summarizing the results of the survey.
Phase 2 – Drafting and Engagement of the project as established in the TOR involves the drafting of several supporting documents. These include:
- Land Use Bylaw and Municipal Development Plan amendments
- An Aggregate Site Monitoring Bylaw to ensure proactive monitoring of aggregate sites and a process for thorough technical review of relevant operating reports.
- A Performance Standards and application requirements document detailing the level of standards aggregate sites must meet and submission requirements for master site development plans and development permit applications.
Phase 3 – Approvals
Once the deliverables as identified in Phase 2 have been finalized Administration will return to Council seeking approval of the project initiatives. A public hearing will be held in June to consider the Land Use Bylaw and Municipal Development Plan amendments. For information on the Public Hearing process, please refer to: Presenting to Council | Rocky View County.
Stakeholder Advisory Committee
Purpose of the Committee
The purpose of the Committee was to provide recommendations on the creation of an Aggregate Resource Plan to Council. Council did not delegate any decision-making ability upon the Committee; however, the Committee attempted to:
- Agree upon principles and approaches to guide the Aggregate Resource Plan, which reconcile the interests of residents, landowners, aggregate operators, environmental stakeholders, and the County.
- On topics where the Committee could not achieve agreement, they identified areas of particular importance that need to be addressed.
- Identified gaps in the previous Aggregate Resource Plan draft that should be addressed in any new document.
- Suggested areas of improvement that are required to the previous Aggregate Resource Plan draft.
- Proposed desired public and stakeholder engagement methods for the Aggregate Resource Plan project (e.g., frequency, type, location, and timing of engagement).
The Committee’s purpose was not to undertake a detailed technical review of the previous Aggregate Resource Plan or to provide technical advice or studies to Council.
Committee Membership
The Committee was formed with the following members:
- Committee Chair: Barbara McNeil
- Residential Committee Members: Gerald Bietz & John Weatherill
- Agricultural Committee Members: Hazel George & Tom Foss
- Aggregate Industry Committee Members: Dale Soetaert & Monty McNair
Members are subject to the Board and Committee Code of Conduct Bylaw.
Committee Documents
Frequently Asked Questions
What is an Aggregate Resource Plan?
An Aggregate Resource Plan (ARP) would guide aggregate extraction activities within Rocky View County. The ARP would ensure that existing and new aggregate operations are appropriately located and developed in a responsible manner that promotes sustainability, and minimizes impacts upon residents, adjacent land uses, and the environment.
Why is Rocky View County creating an Aggregate Resource Plan?
The County’s Municipal Development Plan (County Plan, pg. 67) sets out actions to develop an aggregate extraction policy and management plan. In 2023, Rocky View County Council approved the Aggregate Resource Plan Terms of Reference directing County Administration to develop an Aggregate Resource Plan. The TOR was revised in the Fall of 2024 and approved by Council.
How will Rocky View County engage stakeholders?
One of the project’s core principles was to establish a Stakeholder Advisory Committee chaired by an independent third party. The Committee’s purpose was to provide recommendations on the creation of an Aggregate Resource Plan to Council. These recommendations have been provided to Council in the Committee’s Recommendations & Final Report
Outside of the formal Committee forum, Committee members had formed interest-based working groups to distill the interests of those they represent (i.e., the public), and included this input into the Committee recommendations.
Will there be future opportunities to provide my input to the project?
A public hearing will be held in June as the project moves into Phase 3 to consider the Land Use Bylaw and Municipal Development Plan amendments.
What are the next steps?
Administration will make any revisions required and work with our municipal neighbours to address any identified concerns. A public hearing will be held in June to consider the Land Use Bylaw and Municipal Development Plan amendments. A notice will be posted on the County website when the meeting has been scheduled.
Previous Items
In 2015, Council set out a Terms of Reference for County Administration to develop an ARP. This project resulted in a draft ARP document; however, the document was never adopted by Council as it did not sufficiently reconcile the interests of key stakeholders across the County. The project was ultimately cancelled in April 2019.
On April 11, 2023, Council set out a new Terms of Reference, establishing a project to develop a new ARP with a particular focus on improving stakeholder input.
Meeting minutes and video of the proceedings are available on the Meetings & Hearings webpage.
There are several ways to stay informed about this project.
Contact Planning Policy at planning_policy@rockyview.ca or 403-230-1401 for questions, updates, or further information.
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