Municipal Development Plan and Land Use Bylaw Update

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Purpose of the Project

The Town of Slave Lake is undertaking a project to update both the Municipal Development Plan (MDP) and Land Use Bylaw (LUB) in 2024. These are foundational documents that inform all planning and development activities that happen within the Town of Slave Lake.

The Town of Slave Lake's current MDP and LUB were both adopted by Council in 2007. While the MDP has a good policy framework for a typical mid-sized Town in Alberta, various policies need to be rewritten to support the Town's future vision. This includes alignment with more recent plans, including the Downtown and Main Street Area Structure Plan (ASP) and the Tri-Council Intermunicipal Development Plan (IDP). The current MDP may require an update to the implementation section to provide additional direction for advocacy, partnership, review and monitoring measures.

The LUB needs an update to improve the tools to address current land use challenges and development trends. The update will revise or consolidate some of the current use classes to reflect the contemporary needs of the community. Key regulations associated with important industries will be adjusted as part of this process. Commercial and Industrial Uses have been specifically identified for review and consolidation as part of this project.

What is the Land Use Bylaw?

The purpose of the Land Use Bylaw is to regulate and control the use and development of land and buildings within the Town of Slave Lake and to achieve the orderly and economic development of land. Some other objectives of the Bylaw include (but are not limited to):

  • To divide the Town into districts.
  • To prescribe and regulate for each district the purpose for which land and buildings may be used.
  • To establish the office of a Development Officer.
  • To establish a method of making decisions on applications for development permits including the issuing of development permits.
  • To provide the manner in which notice of the issuance of a development permit it to be given.

What is the Municipal Development Plan?

The Town of Slave Lake 2007 Municipal Development Plan fulfills the statutory requirement of the Alberta Government Act that each "council of a municipality with a population of 3,500 or more must by bylaw adopt a municipal development plan." The purpose of the MDP is not only to fulfill that statutory requirement, but also to express the aspirations of the Council and citizens of the Town of Slave Lake with respect to long-term development and sustainability of their community.

The MDP affirms the land use and development goals, objectives, and policies that are intended to guide the future actions and decision of the Council and administration of the Town of Slave Lake. The MDP sets forth a policy and regulatory framework for both public and private land use and development within the Town. In addition to providing a means of coordinating municipal infrastructure, operations, and management of the Town, the MDP establishes long-term direction toward the achievement of sustainable development within the community.

The MDP must fulfill the following requirements as defined by Section 632 of the Alberta Municipal Government Act:

  • Must address:
    • the future land use within the municipality;
    • the manner of and the proposals for future development in the municipality;
    • the co-ordination of land use, future growth patterns and other infrastructure with adjacent municipalities if there is no intermunicipal development plan with respect to hose matters in those municipalities;
    • the provision of the required transportation systems either generally or specifically within the municipality and in relation to adjacent municipalities; and
    • the provision of municipal services and facilities either generally or specifically.
  • May address:
    • proposals for the financing and programming of municipal infrastructure;
    • the co-ordination of municipal programs relating to the physical, social, and economic development of the municipality;
    • environmental matters within the municipality;
    • the financial resources of the municipality;
    • the economic development of the municipality; and
    • any other matter relating to the physical, social, or economic development of the municipality.
  • May contain statements regarding the municipality's development constraints, including the results of any development studies and impact analysis, and goals, objectives, targets, planning policies, and corporate strategies.
  • Must contain policies compatible with the subdivision and development regulations to provide guidance on the type and location of land uses adjacent to sour gas facilities.
  • Must contain policies respecting the provision of municipal, school, or municipal and school reserves, including but not limited to the need for, amount of and allocation of those reserves and the identification of school requirements in consultation with affected school authorities.
  • Must contain policies respecting the protection of agricultural operations.

Project Timeline

Project Updates

Slave Lake residents, business owners and development industry stakeholders are invited to visit the project website for background information and to stay informed about upcoming public events. Anyone interested in the Municipal Development Plan or the Land Use Bylaw rewrite is encouraged to join the mailing list to receive updates and be notified of upcoming engagement opportunities to provide feedback.

Project Website: https://www.slavelake.ca/225/Planning-Development

Purpose of the Project

The Town of Slave Lake is undertaking a project to update both the Municipal Development Plan (MDP) and Land Use Bylaw (LUB) in 2024. These are foundational documents that inform all planning and development activities that happen within the Town of Slave Lake.

The Town of Slave Lake's current MDP and LUB were both adopted by Council in 2007. While the MDP has a good policy framework for a typical mid-sized Town in Alberta, various policies need to be rewritten to support the Town's future vision. This includes alignment with more recent plans, including the Downtown and Main Street Area Structure Plan (ASP) and the Tri-Council Intermunicipal Development Plan (IDP). The current MDP may require an update to the implementation section to provide additional direction for advocacy, partnership, review and monitoring measures.

The LUB needs an update to improve the tools to address current land use challenges and development trends. The update will revise or consolidate some of the current use classes to reflect the contemporary needs of the community. Key regulations associated with important industries will be adjusted as part of this process. Commercial and Industrial Uses have been specifically identified for review and consolidation as part of this project.

What is the Land Use Bylaw?

The purpose of the Land Use Bylaw is to regulate and control the use and development of land and buildings within the Town of Slave Lake and to achieve the orderly and economic development of land. Some other objectives of the Bylaw include (but are not limited to):

  • To divide the Town into districts.
  • To prescribe and regulate for each district the purpose for which land and buildings may be used.
  • To establish the office of a Development Officer.
  • To establish a method of making decisions on applications for development permits including the issuing of development permits.
  • To provide the manner in which notice of the issuance of a development permit it to be given.

What is the Municipal Development Plan?

The Town of Slave Lake 2007 Municipal Development Plan fulfills the statutory requirement of the Alberta Government Act that each "council of a municipality with a population of 3,500 or more must by bylaw adopt a municipal development plan." The purpose of the MDP is not only to fulfill that statutory requirement, but also to express the aspirations of the Council and citizens of the Town of Slave Lake with respect to long-term development and sustainability of their community.

The MDP affirms the land use and development goals, objectives, and policies that are intended to guide the future actions and decision of the Council and administration of the Town of Slave Lake. The MDP sets forth a policy and regulatory framework for both public and private land use and development within the Town. In addition to providing a means of coordinating municipal infrastructure, operations, and management of the Town, the MDP establishes long-term direction toward the achievement of sustainable development within the community.

The MDP must fulfill the following requirements as defined by Section 632 of the Alberta Municipal Government Act:

  • Must address:
    • the future land use within the municipality;
    • the manner of and the proposals for future development in the municipality;
    • the co-ordination of land use, future growth patterns and other infrastructure with adjacent municipalities if there is no intermunicipal development plan with respect to hose matters in those municipalities;
    • the provision of the required transportation systems either generally or specifically within the municipality and in relation to adjacent municipalities; and
    • the provision of municipal services and facilities either generally or specifically.
  • May address:
    • proposals for the financing and programming of municipal infrastructure;
    • the co-ordination of municipal programs relating to the physical, social, and economic development of the municipality;
    • environmental matters within the municipality;
    • the financial resources of the municipality;
    • the economic development of the municipality; and
    • any other matter relating to the physical, social, or economic development of the municipality.
  • May contain statements regarding the municipality's development constraints, including the results of any development studies and impact analysis, and goals, objectives, targets, planning policies, and corporate strategies.
  • Must contain policies compatible with the subdivision and development regulations to provide guidance on the type and location of land uses adjacent to sour gas facilities.
  • Must contain policies respecting the provision of municipal, school, or municipal and school reserves, including but not limited to the need for, amount of and allocation of those reserves and the identification of school requirements in consultation with affected school authorities.
  • Must contain policies respecting the protection of agricultural operations.

Project Timeline

Project Updates

Slave Lake residents, business owners and development industry stakeholders are invited to visit the project website for background information and to stay informed about upcoming public events. Anyone interested in the Municipal Development Plan or the Land Use Bylaw rewrite is encouraged to join the mailing list to receive updates and be notified of upcoming engagement opportunities to provide feedback.

Project Website: https://www.slavelake.ca/225/Planning-Development