PCPS is committed to supporting municipalities in developing beautiful, resilient communities. This involves using various tools and processes to create high-quality, "functioning built" environments.
Advisory Services
- Policy & Process Development
- Permitting & Compliance Certificates
- Relief Staffing & Day-to-Day Office Support
- Municipal Planning Commission & Council Meeting Presentations
- Land Use, Reserve, Encroachment, and Development Agreements & Caveats
- Representation on Boards and Interdisciplinary Working Groups
- Bylaw Preparation for Re-zonings, Road closure, etc.
- Heritage Consultations & Designations
- Mapping & Civic Addressing
Planning Documents & Consultation
Statutory Plans - municipal development plans, inter-municipal development plans, area structure plans, area redevelopment plans, etc.
Non-Statutory Plans - outline plans, strategic plans, community sustainability plans, infrastructure master plans, etc.
Planning Systems Support – orientation for Council, Municipal Planning Commission, Subdivision and Development Appeal Board; training for municipal staff and officials; departmental policies relating to planning function, planning procedure development, off-site levy bylaws, annexation processes, etc.
Subdivision Processing – application screening, review and referral, subdivision approvals and decisions, condition follow-up and endorsement, advice on related legal agreements, etc.
Public Consultation - facilitated sessions and workshops, open houses and public meetings, surveys and questionnaires, general planning education, landowner inquiries, communication tools, etc.
Design – layouts for individual sites, subdivision design, neighbourhood design, creation of design guidelines, streetscape design, etc.
Mapping Services - base mapping, Land Use Bylaw District Maps, civic address maps, display boards, PowerPoint presentations, plan maps, visual aids, etc.
Other - growth strategies and studies, municipal census, community development strategies, urban design, etc.
Land Use Bylaws
Setting the standard for community development, a Land Use Bylaw (LUB) is central to implementing a community’s vision for an area. It divides the municipality into districts with prescribed uses and development standards.
It dictates processes for development permit approval and all land use re-designation applications. Moreover, an LUB is the key tool used to implement and transform the policies laid out in higher level plans, like: Municipal Development Plan (MDP), Inter-Municipal Development Plan (IDP), Area Structure Plan (ASP), and Area Redevelopment Plan (ARP).
Similar to a MDP, a LUB is adopted by Council and can only be amended by a Council bylaw. Public consultation is required for both the adoption and amendment processes, ensuring citizen engagement and consultation in Council's final decision.
Land Use Bylaws are reviewed periodically to ensure effectiveness in response to changing development pressures and priorities within the community.
Key functions of LUB include:
- Set out appropriate uses and building forms for various areas in a community
- Encourage the orderly and efficient development and preservation of lands
- Ensure the separation of incompatible uses
- Provide a system for issuing and enforcing development permits
Statutory Plans
Municipal Development Plan
A Municipal Development Plan (MDP) is a municipality’s guidebook for community direction and development. It establishes policies that account for the community's social, economic, and environmental considerations, and act as the 'compass' to realize the community's vision in the long term. An MDP addresses policies concerning:
- Overarching visions for community character and sustainability
- Land use development, form, and function
- Development of transportation services, municipal services, and facilities
- Open spaces, parks, and trail systems
Inter-municipal Development Plan
An Inter-municipal Development Plan (IDP) is a foundational tool of regional planning and cooperation. It is a statutory plan two or more municipalities espouse to guide future land use for areas along shared boundaries. It aims to prevent land use conflict in areas near boundaries and align the planning interests of participating municipalities. An IDP addresses policies concerning:
- Broad land use patterns
- Referral and joint decision-making
- Dispute resolution
- Annexation
- Future infrastructure and servicing
Area Structure Plan
An Area Structure Plan (ASP) is an optional statutory plan that focuses on a specific area within the municipality and its prospective use and developments. It is a detailed plan that explores the suitability of land for proposed uses. An ASP coordinates critical issues among several land holdings including:
- Land use and building form for the area
- School sites, major open space, trail, and corridors
- Location of major transportation routes and public utilities
Area Redevelopment Plan
An ARP is a statutory plan focusing on an older, developed area within a community with the intent to encourage revitalization. This may include:
- Redevelopment visions and objectives
- Land use, building form and design guidelines
- Rationale for local improvement levies
- Identify land acquisition areas for public uses
Non Statutory Plans & Studies
Outline Plans
Outline Plans are non-statutory plans typically prepared by private land developers to provide a greater level of detail than statutory plans. Outline plans contemplate land use, transportation, parks, and trail development and servicing.
Community Sustainability Plans
Sustainability plans are dynamic plans and processes that address the long-term ability for communities to meet the economic, social, and environmental needs of their residents. These plans often involve extensive public engagement to determine the vision of the community.
Heritage Plans
Protecting historical assets within a community is vital to community identity and character. Heritage plans can be undertaken in partnership with the Alberta Municipal Heritage Partnership program or by the municipality through ARPs, or other plans, and can include protection and incentives for restoration.
Open Space Plans
Open space plans combine land use, recreation, and natural space management to create a comprehensive and strategic concept for creating and connecting open places.
Growth Studies
Growth studies focus on long-term growth and expansion of the municipality based on demographic trends and projections. These plans provide the foundation for long-term planning decisions and policy direction.
Policy and Strategic Development
Municipal policies and procedures are vital to clear, consistent, and efficient operations. Policy review and departmental strategies can help ensure that the efforts of municipal planning departments are working toward the common goals and visions of the organization and the community as a whole.
Urban Design
Urban design is the collaboration of planning, architecture, landscaping, and civil engineering to create dynamic and functional public and private spaces. Urban design projects can range from small sites to entire villages or communities.
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