Skip to content

Town, MD waiting on provincial decision

Several Okotoks-area residents are waiting with bated breath for a ruling after a provincial hearing into Okotoks’ annexation plans last week. The Town of Okotoks and MD of Foothills went before the municipal government board (MGB) on Oct.
This map outlines the proposed annexation area. The Town of Okotoks and MD of Foothills met with the municipal government board Oct. 12 for a hearing on the annexation where
This map outlines the proposed annexation area. The Town of Okotoks and MD of Foothills met with the municipal government board Oct. 12 for a hearing on the annexation where residents voiced their concerns.

Several Okotoks-area residents are waiting with bated breath for a ruling after a provincial hearing into Okotoks’ annexation plans last week.

The Town of Okotoks and MD of Foothills went before the municipal government board (MGB) on Oct. 12 for a public hearing on the proposed annexation of 1,950 hectares of land into the Town.

Residents got the opportunity to speak before the MGB about the current annexation plans.

Kristi Beunder, who represented MD resident and landowner Ervie Miller at the hearing, said the hearing was a frustrating process despite having the chance to voice concerns before the board.

“It felt like the Town’s lawyer was running the meeting and it was very much a fait accompli process,” said Beunder. “I think a lot of people left because they felt that way.”

She spoke on behalf of Miller, whose land is home to two businesses – Integrity Post Structures and Miller Supply. Under the proposed annexation plan, the parcel of land containing the businesses will remain in the MD and his adjacent lands will be annexed into the Town.

An unsuccessful attempt was made in the spring to subdivide Miller’s property as a proactive measure. She said Integrity Post Structures, located on the property, needs room to expand, but the annexation boundary would mean any expansion would be into the Town of Okotoks.

In addition, according to rudimentary plans for a future overpass at 338 Ave. and Highway 2, future traffic lanes will pass drawn directly through the Integrity Post building, she said. There isn’t a timeline set for overpass construction, but she said it’s still worrying.

“Our concern right now is if we have to relocate for those reasons and the annexation line remains where it is, we may not be able to make those changes in the Town of Okotoks jurisdiction,” said Beunder.

She said the Town isn’t likely to approve an unserviced lot on its outer boundary, so she was looking to the MGB to move the annexation border to the west, closer to the Miller’s residence, and leave room in the MD for the businesses to relocate and expand.

“It’s disappointing to me,” said Beunder. “It’s not like every day people say, ‘I don’t want to be annexed,’ because there are incremental land value increases when people are annexed.”

If the MGB doesn’t make any changes, Miller will be forced to stand still and not do anything with his land, which could damage the businesses that are already busting at the seams.

The hearing didn’t leave her with much of a sense of hope.

“I just didn’t get a sense that there was any ambition to change for any reason,” said Beunder. “There was some frustration in that room as to the length of the whole process, as to how long they made the landowners wait, and it just didn’t seem like it necessarily was going to affect any change regardless.”

MD resident Bonny Osland came out of the hearing with a glimmer of hope, thankful for the opportunity to speak before the MGB with her neighbours, the Balagans and Lochers. The three landowners are fighting to be included in the annexation.

“I think it went fine,” said Osland. “I’m glad we had the opportunity to be heard, and with a hope and a prayer everything will turn out so it’s a win-win for everyone.”

The Town’s annexation area analysis, conducted in July 2015, deemed the 15.6-acre triangular-shaped area of land where the three each have homes as unsuitable for development due to its natural slope and 4.8 acres of pond.

Osland and her neighbours grew concerned when they heard plans for the proposed northern boundary of Okotoks, adjacent to their properties, would be zoned commercial-industrial.

At the hearing, the residents were told by the Town the area had been identified as a gateway area, which could include any type of development and is intended as a transition zone between the highway and the town. They were also assured all area residents would be consulted prior to future development.

“All three of us were quite surprised when we heard that,” said Osland. “That was the first we’d ever heard it may not be commercial-industrial, so it was a bit of a relief.”

Okotoks CAO Elaine Vincent said the Town wasn’t surprised by the two resident presentations at the hearing, as both groups had contested the annexation boundary in the past.

“We were well aware of these concerns,” said Vincent. “The residents who spoke have been speaking these concerns, to my understanding, pretty much the duration of the annexation process.”

Vincent said she’s “fairly optimistic” with how the hearing went, adding that the Town’s lawyer presented a good case before the board about how the municipalities tried to deal with concerned landowners well in advance.

After lengthy negotiations, Vincent said she’s pleased with the results of the annexation process and the fact the two municipalities were able to reach an agreement.

“The Town and the MD have worked very hard on the development of the intermunicipal development plan, and founded in that is the focus on citizens and what their needs are,” said Vincent. “We can guarantee we’re going to continue to work together and address those needs as we more forward.”

MD of Foothills director of planning Heather Hemingway said the municipality is comfortable with the annexation agreement as it stands and she felt the hearing went well.

“I was pleased the members of the public were able to be heard by the board, and that the board was willing to allow both the Town and the MD to speak to the annexation,” said Hemingway.

push icon
Be the first to read breaking stories. Enable push notifications on your device. Disable anytime.
No thanks