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On July 4, 2023, Council successfully appointed seven individuals to fill all positions on the Aggregate Resource Plan Stakeholder Advisory Committee.
The Committee consists of 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
Further details on the Committee and its responsibilities are included under the Stakeholder Advisory Committee section below.
Details on how to attend or stream all future Committee Meetings will be posted to this webpage once scheduled. Please check back for project updates.
Background
What is an Aggregate Resource Plan?
It is proposed that the Aggregate Resource Plan (ARP) will be a policy document designed to guide aggregate extraction activities within Rocky View County. The plan is proposed to include location criteria for aggregate extraction sites, appropriate setbacks between aggregate extraction uses and other land uses, and performance measures to manage site design and minimize the impacts of aggregate extraction.
Why is Rocky View County creating an Aggregate Resource Plan?
The County’s principal planning document, the Municipal Development Plan (County Plan), sets out actions to develop an aggregate extraction policy and management plan.
The Plan is intended to ensure that aggregate development is located and developed in an orderly manner that promotes sustainability, and minimizes impacts upon residents, adjacent land uses, and the environment.
The ARP project will result in a plan that is sensitive to stakeholder concerns and requirements and is responsive to the diverse development conditions that exist throughout the County.
How will Rocky View County engage stakeholders?
One of the project’s core principles is the establishment of a Stakeholder Advisory Committee chaired by an independent third party. The goal of the committee is to provide interest-based recommendations and areas of consensus between stakeholders on identifying appropriate aggregate policies and standards.
In addition to the Chair, the Committee will be composed of six members representing various stakeholder groups. A full breakdown of the Committee’s purpose and structure is included below.
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.
Project Overview
The Aggregate Resource Plan project will be completed across three phases, of which we are currently in Phase 1. Please see the project schedule below.
Phase 1 will see the establishment of the Stakeholder Advisory Committee and delivery of the Committee’s Recommendations. Phases 2 and 3 will include additional public engagement, presentation of the Aggregate Resource Plan, and amendments to existing plans and bylaws that will facilitate the implementation of the Aggregate Resource Plan policies.
Stakeholder Advisory Committee
Purpose of the Committee
The purpose of the Committee is to provide recommendations on the creation of an Aggregate Resource Plan to Council. Council has not delegated any decision-making ability upon the Committee; however, the Committee shall attempt 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.
- In the event that the Committee cannot achieve agreement, the Committee shall consider areas of particular importance that need to be addressed
- Identify gaps in the previous Aggregate Resource Plan draft or the current Aggregate Resource Plan Terms of Reference, that should be addressed in any new document.
- Suggest areas of improvement that are required to the previous Aggregate Resource Plan draft.
- Propose 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 is not to undertake any detailed technical review of the previous Aggregate Resource Plan or to provide technical advice or studies to Council. In this respect, the Chair shall ensure that the Committee is within scope and meeting its wider purpose as set out above.
Committee Membership
The Committee consists of 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.
Time Commitment and Compensation
Members serve on a volunteer basis and are reimbursed for incidental expenses. A member will be expected to attend at least one in-person meeting per month. The times and dates of meetings will be set by the Chair at a later date. The Committee’s mandate is for up to one year from the Committee’s first meeting.
Documents
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.
Fill in the form below to receive project updates and learn about opportunities to participate.
Follow the project on this webpage. We will post updates and upcoming events.