The Municipal District of Bighorn has held off on re-designating valued land in its fastest growing hamlet in order to step back into the negotiating room.
MD council approved second reading, but not third and final reading, on plans to amend the Municipal Development Plan at Dead Man’s Flats, which would follow its proposed Area Structure Plan (ASP) at the hamlet.
The decision on June 13 to hold off gives the municipality and Province a bit more time to negotiate a land swap which has been proposed for industrial development in an area near a wildlife underpass on the Trans-Canada.
“Administration recommends holding off on third reading pending resolution on a land swap,” said Rob Ellis, MD acting chief administrative officer.
After concluding an inter-municipal dispute that ruled in favour of the MD and its ASP plans this past March – Canmore’s opposition was dismissed – the MD was free to begin moving forward with plans to see development of 29 hectares of lands for light commercial and recreation.
The MD has been locked in land-swap negotiations for the ASP lands since 2003 with the former Provincial Conservative government, and now the NDP government.
Although the MD’s decision to wait was approved, one councillor wondered how much longer the MD is supposed to “hold its breath” in the ongoing decade and them some land swap negotiations.
“I have to admire the MD’s multiple administrations for the endeavour of trying to swap lands in Dead Man’s Flats and I really appreciate the concept of leaving the door open, but I’m wondering if it’s going to serve any purpose,” said Councillor Paul Ryan.
“It’s been more than 10 years we’ve been doing this.”
Ryan wanted to “put this to bed” before the end of this council’s term this fall, but Reeve Dene Cooper said there is value in using forbearance in the process.
In March, Cooper said the land-swap negotiations were at a “very serious stage” following conclusion of the inter-municipal dispute.
“The negotiations are for today, not yesterday,” said Cooper. “I’m there (at the negotiations), I know that’s the case.”
Cooper added he is in favour of giving administration more flexibility.
Coun. Carolyn Montgomery sided with Ryan, though, saying the MD shouldn’t “drag on forever” with the negotiations and suggested a deadline prior to the election.
Ryan also had a serious concern with leaving the matter until after the municipal election, saying that “actors outside the MD” wouldn’t mind dragging the situation out until after council’s term.
“I don’t think the province should be driving this council’s agenda … it’s not in the interest of the ratepayers,” he said.
