5.1 General Development Framework

Goal:
To provide a general development framework for evaluating and approving developments within Sturgeon County’s Industrial Heartland Area in a manner that balances both quality of life and economic development considerations.

Intent

Sturgeon County’s MDP attempts to strike a balance between economic development, quality of life and environmental objectives to achieve compatible and sustainable land use patterns. Sturgeon County’s Industrial Heartland ASP can be used in two ways. First, when prospective industrial proponents are assessing the County as to whether it is the appropriate area for industry to locate, they will be able to refer to the development framework contained herein. By referring their initial plans to the set of considerations (municipal, provincial, federal, resource and stakeholder), the eco-industrial development principles and goals and objectives of the plan, and their respective application to the lands within Sturgeon County, these industrial interests will develop an understanding of the requirements they will have to meet to develop their planned operation. With this general knowledge, they will be able to better understand the implications of locating in that particular portion of the Heartland area.

Once the preferred site has been selected, the second application of this ASP can be employed. The industrial interests will be able to proceed with the detailed planning and development associated with that particular site.

This approach reinforces the responsibility of Sturgeon County for the lands within Alberta’s Industrial Heartland area. It enables the County to serve as the main window in dealing with industry regarding the lands within its own jurisdiction. It also reinforces the responsibility of the County to work collaboratively with provincial and federal agencies in ensuring that industry meets the necessary requirements of other levels of government for their development and subsequent operation plans.

Objectives

• to avoid and minimize potential land use conflicts with heavy industrial development;
• to better integrate federal, provincial and municipal and environmental review and approvals;
• to promote eco-industrial development practices amongst industries; and
• to maintain and enhance the quality of life of residents by providing adequate separation distances between residential and heavy industrial uses to minimize risk to public safety and nuisance associated with heavy industrial uses.

Policies

5.1.1	Compliance with Statutory Plans	Any subdivision and development applications shall need to comply with land use designations contained in Sturgeon County’s MDP, LUB and this ASP.
5.1.2	Policies, Codes of Practice, Regulations Controls and Standards	Any development involving the storage or transmission of hazardous substances shall be sited to comply with all relevant federal and provincial legislation. A license, permit approval or other authorization granted by a federal or provincial agency or Crown-controlled organization may prevail over this bylaw or a development decision Development Approving Authority and/or subdivision and development appeal board pursuant to federal or provincial legislation. When an application is received by the County for a LUB amendment or development permit and the application is consistent with such a license, permit, approval or other authorization granted by a federal or provincial agency or Crown-controlled organization, the County shall approve the application to the extent that it complies with the license, permit, approval or other authorization granted.
5.1.3	Avoiding Duplication and Streamlining Development and Approval Process	To avoid unnecessary duplication and streamline the development review and approval process, Sturgeon County shall coordinate its requirements for an Environmental Nuisance and Health Impacts Assessment and/or Industrial Risk Assessment by consulting with provincial and federal agencies regarding these requirements as part of the terms of reference for applications being submitted by industrial proponents for federal or provincial approvals.
5.1.4	Eco-Industrial Development Principles	Sturgeon County will encourage industry and agricultural operations to work together in employing eco-industrial development principles, and practices whenever possible.
5.1.5	Separation of Heavy Industrial Uses and Other Land Uses	Sturgeon County shall maintain and enhance the quality of life of citizens by adopting a risk-based land use planning approach to provide for adequate and safe separation between heavy industrial development and other land uses.  The purpose of industrial risk management is to reduce the risks to public safety and minimize nuisance associated with heavy industrial development and to facilitate timely emergency response in the event of an industrial incident.