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At the July 23rd, 2024, Council Meeting, Administration will present the Committee’s Recommendations & Final Report, results from the ARP Survey, and Administration’s recommendations for next steps in the project.
Results from the Aggregate Resource Committee Recommendations Survey are now available in a "What We Heard Report".
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 Aggregate Resource Plan Terms of Reference directing County Administration to develop an Aggregate Resource Plan.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.
To ensure the complex and varied perspectives of different stakeholder groups have been appropriately considered, Phase 1 of the project established a Stakeholder Advisory Committee headed by a third-party Chair and six volunteer members representing country residential residents, agricultural residents, and aggregate industry representatives.
The Aggregate Resource Plan project will be completed across three phases, of which we are currently in Phase 1 – Stakeholder Advisory Committee. The County is currently accepting public input on the ARP Committee Recommendations & Final Report Survey on the County’s “YourView” engagement page.
There will be additional opportunities for in-person and online public engagement during Phases 2 and 3 of the project.
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 delegated 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.
- Proposeed 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
Project 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.
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?
Yes! The County is currently accepting public input on the Committee’s Recommendations & Final Report. Please visit the County’s engagement website and respond to the survey before June 14, 2024.
There will more opportunities to engage both in-person and online in Phase 2 of the project with dates and specific details to be released in Fall 2024.
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.
Stay Informed
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.