A new Intermunicipal Development Plan (IDP) between the Town of Vermilion and the County of Vermilion River is in the works, and residents are invited to attend a public open house (via Zoom or Youtube ) on Thursday May 13. This plan, which was first set up in 2003, is a legislative requirement under the Provincial Municipal Government Act, R.S.A. 2000. All municipalities with the Province of Alberta that share common boundaries are required to have a functional IDP. With the support of a planner from Municipal Planning Services, the Town and County are in the process of updating theirs.
This development plan is the framework for land expansion, development, and changes to the area surrounding Vermilion that borders with land that falls under County jurisdiction. These plans work in conjunction with the Municipal Development Plan (MDP) that every Municipality has for growth in their area, and both stakeholders take the Intermunicipal boundaries into consideration when creating MDP’s. While creating this template, all aspects of land use in the area affected are taken into consideration, including historic resources, landfills and waste management, natural resource development and the current uses of the land and the boundaries in place.
This IDP has planning goals, which have been developed based on a mutually shared vision for the region, including protecting agricultural land, wetlands, and waterbodies, taking into consideration future urban growth and rural development, planning for new investment and employment opportunities, supporting recreation opportunities, and keeping the communication between the Town and County open and maintained. These goals are the foundation of the plan, and ensure that all aspects are looked at when expansion or changes in the region are being considered.
For those who are new to the community or, like myself, know very little about municipal relations and development, the Public Open House is meant to help inform residents of what is being discussed, answer questions and address concerns residents might have. People who would like to view the draft of the plan can contact Al Wilson at the Town Office (780)-581-2404 or Roger Garnett at the County of Vermilion Office (780)-846-2244. You can also submit any questions you may have to Kyle Miller at Municipal Planning Services (780)-486-1991. If you would like to attend the open house, please visit the Town of Vermilion website to obtain the Zoom and YouTube link.