Grande Prairie residents, businesses and other community stakeholders can have a say in future development by participating in a survey on the updated Land Use Bylaw.
The City of Grande Prairie, together with Lovatt Planning Consultants and ISL Engineering and Land Services, is updating its Land Use Bylaw (LUB), also known as a zoning bylaw, to respond to issues resulting from the city’s unprecedented growth between 2004 and 2007, changing society and the advancement of new technologies.
To ensure the LUB meets the future needs of residents and business owners, a Survey has been developed to gather ideas about what should be considered in updating the LUB.
“The Land Use Bylaw affects all Grande Prairie residents and businesses and gathering input is essential to the process,” says Mayor Dwight Logan. “The Resident Survey is an important first step in shaping a new document. I encourage all residents and business owners to complete the survey and participate fully in the process.”
The LUB is a statutory document that regulates land uses and development such as parking, lot sizes, landscaping, maintenance of properties, and the general appearance of a community. It also divides the City into land use zones or districts and establishes development application and appeal methods.
City Council and Administration use the LUB to implement all new development, redevelopment and upgrading projects. The LUB update will revise existing provisions to allow the City to meet its mandate to properly control and regulate land use and development, while still remaining sufficiently flexible to permit new opportunities and innovations.
The Land Use Bylaw ties into the new Municipal Development Plan (MDP) which provides an exciting vision and policy framework that will guide overall growth of Grande Prairie for the next 15 to 20 years. Many of the MDP policies will be implemented by the updated LUB. The LUB is also used for implementing Area Structure Plan and Outline Plan policies and facilitates subdivisions and development.
On February 5, the project team will launch the first opportunity for public input, the LUB Resident Survey, to gather ideas on what should be considered as the City updates the Land Use Bylaw (LUB). The survey will run until February 19, 2010 and is available in PDF format and online at the City’s website in hard copy at City Hall, 10205-98 Street (Development Services Office, Third Floor).
The Project team will also be hosting a series of Focus Group Discussions and a Public Information Session later this spring. Dates and times will be available at the City’s website and publicized in local media as they become available.
Questions about the Focus Group Discussions and the Public Information Session or LUB Resident Survey requests can be directed to Amanda Gill, ISL Engineering and Land Services toll free, at 1-877-838-9001, via fax at 1-780-438-3700 or by emailing agill@islengineering.com
Click here to view the survey in PDF format
Click here to take the online survey
