Rockyview Official Community Plan

The Rockyview Official Community Plan (OCP) planning process will update the current OCP, consolidate it with the Moyie & Area OCP and consolidate the existing Wycliffe Zoning Bylaw with the Electoral Area C South Zoning Bylaw to create one OCP and one zoning bylaw for the western portions of Electoral Area C.

The planning process is just getting underway and community engagement and participation will be the foundation of its success. Here are three ways you can get involved:

1. Fill out the survey - an initial survey is now open. The survey has been broken into two geographic areas (Rockyview/Wycliffe, Moyie) and residents and property owners are encouraged to fill out the survey most geographically relevant to them. The survey deadline is March 31 and the survey links can be found below.
   
   
2. Apply to Sit on the Advisory Group - an Advisory Group is being established to assist in making recommendations throughout the planning process. The group will play a key role in the development of the OCP and zoning bylaw by providing feedback on the policies and regulations at various stages as well as soliciting additional information from the public and providing an additional means of bringing information to the community. Advisory Group meetings will be held independent of the participatory engagement sessions. Deadline to apply for the Advisory Group is March 31, 2023.
   • Click here to view a copy of the Terms of Reference and Application Form
     
     
3. Attend the Spring Engagement Sessions - Public engagement sessions will be held throughout the plan area in May. Details will be provided on this page, emailed to our Area C email groups within the Plan area and posted in local and social media once they are confirmed.

WHAT IS AN OFFICIAL COMMUNITY PLAN?

An OCP is a long term, strategic planning document. OCPs provide direction and guide local government decision making related to how land is used or conserved. It contains objectives and policy statements related to a range of topics including residential, commercial, agricultural, industrial, recreational, environmental, solid waste, public safety, and transportation. These policies reflect the vision of the community’s interests and serve to guide decision making by the RDEK Board of Directors. OCP policies also provide context for interagency referrals related to land use.

An OCP Will:

• provide a blueprint for future growth and development
• identify and promote a local vision for development and conservation within the community
• provide direction for the RDEK Board when considering development applications
• enable a proactive rather than reactive approach to planning
• assist in identifying issues of importance or concern
• assist in preventing incompatible land uses

An OCP will not:

• change Agricultural Land Reserve regulations
• change the ownership of Crown land
• affect land uses existing at the time the Bylaw is adopted
• affect existing permit requirements or other government regulations

An OCP is a living document and may be amended from time to time. Changes to the zoning or designation of property must be consistent with the OCP and may require an OCP amendment application. Amending an OCP is a public process.

WHAT IS A ZONING BYLAW?

A zoning bylaw governs land use and the form, siting, height, and density of all development within the plan area to provide for the orderly development of the community and to avoid conflicts between incompatible uses. Typically, there are residential, commercial, agricultural, recreational, institutional, industrial and other zones. Each zone has its own specific regulations.