Planning & Development Services

The Planning Hierarchy in Alberta

Land use planning and decision-making in the Province of Alberta is administered through a hierarchy of provincial legislative and policy documents. This planning hierarchy is implemented by decision-makers including provincial departments and agencies, regional boards and agencies, and municipalities.

At the provincial level, the planning hierarchy is governed largely by the Alberta Land Stewardship Act (ALSA), the Land Use Framework (LUF), while in the Town’s case it is governed regionally by the South Saskatchewan Regional Plan (SSRP). More localized municipal and intermunicipal land use planning is primarily governed by the Municipal Government Act (MGA).

Planning & Development in Strathmore

Land use planning at the local level is a journey that begins with a community vision that is broad, all-encompassing, and policy-based - it is this "bird's eye view" that identifies and establishes how Strathmore intends on growing and developing as a community over the longer term. Strathmore's community vision is then narrowed, refined, and implemented through the development of supporting bylaws, policies, strategies, and other related documents, projects, and programs.

For example, planning for growth and development in Strathmore ensures that there are:

• Places to live - apartments, houses, and neighbourhoods.
• Places to work - offices, schools, and institutions.
• Spaces to enjoy - parks and open spaces, playgrounds, recreational facilities, etc.
• Ways for people and goods to move - bicycle and pedestrian pathways, roads, sidewalks, transportation corridors, etc.

At the most local level, the development permit process reviews and authorizes what can be built, or how a property can be used, relative to local development standards and regulations, while the building permit and safety code permit process reviews and authorizes the construction or alteration of a physical structure, as well as ensuring that all technical safety standards for specific utility installations and systems are followed.

Explore the menu tabs below for more on Planning & Development Services in Strathmore: