The Municipal Development Plan (MDP) is a statutory plan (legal document) within Alberta’s planning framework and therefore must align with provincial legislation including the Municipal Government Act and the Land Stewardship Act. It must also align with higher order statutory plans such as the South Saskatchewan Regional Plan. It outlines the overall vision for a municipality’s future growth from a planning and development perspective and guides how and where the municipality will grow. The new plan will replace the existing MDP, known as the County Plan, which was first adopted in 2013.

On December 13, 2022, Council approved the MDP Review Project Terms of Reference, which provided direction to conduct a full rewrite of the County Plan (current MDP). A comprehensive rewrite of the document was seen as an opportunity to align the County’s vision and future growth strategy with Council’s strategic goals, and the current vision, values, and priorities of County residents.

The last comprehensive update to the MDP occurred in 2013, with adoption of the County Plan. Over this time, our community vision and values have evolved, highlighting the need for an MDP that better aligns with our shifting context. Additionally, the concept of Distinct Areas is being explored to capture the unique identities of our diverse communities. This approach aims to guide future growth in a way that celebrates local lifestyle and character while fostering sustainable development across the County.

By updating the MDP, we ensure it remains a robust framework for managing growth, enhancing quality of life, and shaping a prosperous future for all residents.

The Municipal Development Plan (MDP) provides broad, high-level policy direction that serves as a roadmap to achieving thoughtful growth across the County. In Rocky View County, the MDP also guides and regulates land use and planning decisions in rural areas (i.e., lands without an approved ASP).

The MDP is a statutory plan that informs lower order plans including all Area Structure Plans (ASPs), and non-statutory plans that guide land use decisions, infrastructure investments, and the provision of community services. It serves as an important decision-making tool for Council, County Administration, and interested parties. Therefore, any updates to the MDP will have a meaningful impact on the future of your community.

Your input on the plan is important to ensure the updated MDP reflects the values, goals, and priorities of the people who live and do business in communities across the County.

Stage 3 Engagement will launch in spring 2025, where there will be multiple opportunities for you to provide both online and in-person feedback. Please visit the “Stage 3 Engagement” page for Open House dates and information on other opportunities to engage with the draft MDP.

The first two stages of engagement are now closed, and the Engagement Summary Reports are available under “Additional Resources” at the bottom of this page.

If you would like to receive updates on the project, please sign up for our MDP Review project mailing list at the side of this webpage.

Through the Municipal Government Act (MGA), the provincial government requires all municipalities to adopt a Municipal Development Plan (MDP) to guide long-range planning and land use. The MDP is required to address future growth and development in the municipality, the provision of required transportation systems, and the provision of municipal services. The MDP may also address environmental matters, the coordination of municipal programs, or economic development of the municipality.

In 2021, Rocky View County submitted an updated Municipal Development Plan (MDP) to the Calgary Metropolitan Region Board (CMRB) for review and approval, as required under the Regional Evaluation Framework (REF). The CMRB refused the proposed MDP, citing a lack of cooperation between the County and its regional partners, and the plan’s failure to align with the CMRB Interim Growth Plan.

During the previous MDP update project, Rocky View County held several open houses and engagement events, and the findings remain valuable for the current MDP Review project. The County has validated the input previously gathered to ensure the relevant themes and ideas have been carried forward where appropriate.

The new Municipal Development Plan is planned to be adopted in summer 2025.

The County is waiting for further direction on the status of the CMRB and the CMRB Growth Plan:

• November 22, 2024: The Province of Alberta announced that it would be withdrawing funding from the Calgary Metropolitan Region Board (CMRB) and allowing membership to be voluntary.
• December 10, 2024: Rocky View County Council passed a motion to express its intent to leave the CMRB.
• February 10, 2025: The Calgary Metropolitan Region Board (CMRB) members voted to cease operations before May 1, 2025.

The MDP Review project will continue with the current project timeline. Notwithstanding recent events with the CMRB, an update to the County’s MDP remains a priority as the current MDP (the County Plan) was adopted over 10 years ago (2013). The County has experienced significant growth and change over this timeframe; therefore, a comprehensive review of the MDP is both necessary and timely, and provides an opportunity to review the County’s vision and future growth strategy to ensure it aligns with Council’s strategic goals and the vision, values, and priorities of County residents.

The draft MDP has been amended to reflect the changing policy context in the region, and prioritizes the feedback and direction shared during previous rounds of engagement with the public and other interested parties.