Councillor proposes Wind Walk annexation

Okotoks: Development part of 30-year-future growth plan

An Okotoks councillor feels if you can’t beat them, have them join you.

Okotoks councillor Matt Rockley plans to present a motion at town council’s Feb. 13 meeting to begin the annexation process of land to accommodate the growth of Okotoks over the next three decades.

Rockley’s proposal was made public on Jan. 27, shortly after the Town of Okotoks lost two appeals last week to stop the to Wind Walk development in the MD of Foothills, just south of Okotoks.

“The decisions from the municipal government board and the Court of Queen’s Bench has clearly told us that Okotoks can’t control the development around us,” Rockley said Jan. 27.

“The only way that Okotoks can manage its future growth is to annex a growth area within our jurisdiction.”

Councillors Ed Sands and Florence Christophers responded that they would support the motion in an e-mail.

While Rockley’s motion does not state the proposed Wind Walk development specifically, he said the fact the annexation is based on 30 years of growth, makes it a logical part of the annexation.

“Because it (Wind Walk) has been approved, I would see it as being one of the first growth areas,” Rockley said. “I don’t see how it couldn’t be part of the annexation proposal.”

Annexation consists of an agreement for a municipality to take over jurisdiction over an area in another municipality. For example if Okotoks was to annex land from the MD of Foothills, the land would now fall under the Okotoks jurisdiction, which includes collecting taxes, and providing services.

MD Reeve Larry Spilak doesn’t see Wind Walk being annexed by Okotoks in the near future.

“Probably not at this point,” Spilak said. “They had that opportunity before the developer approached us, and they chose not to go in that direction.

“You never know what will happen between two councils, but in my opinion the land will not be annexed.”

Rockley said while the MD would be giving up the Wind Walk tax base, it would also be giving up the cost of servicing the area. He admits the Town had its chance to annex earlier. However, he still sees annexation as a viable option.

“There are benefits to the MD as well,” Rockley said. “It relieves the obligation of providing urban services to that development. With it being right next to the community of Okotoks and the infrastructure of Okotoks, it is a lot more efficient to provide urban services from Okotoks rather than afar.

“It really is a more efficient use of tax dollars. So, I would hope there is still an opportunity for us to work together on this.”

Okotoks Mayor Bill Robertson said it would be premature to discuss annexation until it is presented by a councillor.