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Development Plans
Inter-municipal Development Plan
An Inter-municipal Development Plan (IDP) is a statutory plan prepared collaboratively between two (or more) municipalities to provide direction for the future development of lands of mutual importance. An IDP serves as a cooperative framework for efficient land use planning and development decision-making at the interface between municipal boundaries. IDPs are adopted by the municipality through marching municipal bylaws, and contain policies that address land use, environmental matters, transportation, economic development, and inter-municipal infrastructure, services, and programs, as well as procedures for administering and amending the plan. All IDPs will have to be consistent with the ALSA Regional Plans of the Provincial Land Use Framework, once those are completed.
The MD of Opportunity has received an exemption from completing IDPs from Municipal Affairs, along with its rural neighbours, Athabasca County, MD of Lesser Slave River, Northern Sunrise County, Mackenzie County, Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo, and Lac La Biche County due to the distance between municipal borders. However, Inter-Collaborative Framework plans were adopted in 2019 with these communities and they offer a cooperative framework for land use planning and development decision-making for lands around the boundaries of the adjacent municipalities. The ICF’s main goal is to improve inter-municipal relations.
Municipal Development Plan (2020)
The Municipal Development Plan (MDP) is the primary planning policy document for the MD of Opportunity. The MDP was adopted in 2003 by Council to provide a cohesive framework to guide local decision making that is necessary to achieve the MD of Opportunity’s long-term vision. The MDP guides future land use, infrastructure, environmental, social, and economic policy decisions in a manner that reflects the municipality’s vision. It outlines the anticipated form and character of neighbourhoods, and more generally the entire Municipality. Furthermore, the MDP informs residents, developers, and investors with respect to what type of development is desired, and identifies the preferred locations. The MDP provides a foundation for the preparation of more detailed land use plans; is intended to be used in conjunction with the Municipality’s Land Use Bylaw to implement the policies of this Plan; and to inform residents and developers of the Municipality’s future land use strategy.
Area Structure Plans
An Area Structure Plan (ASP) provides a framework for future subdivision and development of land, resulting in the creation of a new neighbourhood or commercial/industrial area. ASPs identify where residential, commercial, institutional, industrial, and other land uses will be located and how services such as water, electricity, sewer systems, telecommunications, schools, fire protection, and parks will be provided. ASPs are either prepared by the Municipality or required from a developer in advance of a subdivision proposal. Currently, Wabasca, Red Earth Creek, Sandy Lake, and Calling Lake have approved ASPs, which specifically provides a land use and road and infrastructure framework for the efficient and orderly development of each of these communities, while respecting other land uses to meet growing market demands.
The following Area Structure Plans are available for download:
2022-01 Area Structure Plan – Sandy Lake Bylaw – Amended
2020-11 Area Structure Plan – Sandy Lake Bylaw
2020-10 Area Structure Plan – Calling Lake Bylaw
2020-09 Area Structure Plan – Red Earth Creek Bylaw
2020-08 Area Structure Plan – Wabasca Bylaw
2018-04 Area Structure Plan 832 1796, Block 0, Lot 11A – Amended Bylaw
2017-16 Area Structure Plan Redistricting the Portion of SW-17-72-21-W4M – Amended Bylaw
2017-11 Area Structure Plan 902 0094, Block 11, Lot 2- Amended Bylaw
2015-16 Area Structure Plan 832 1796, Block 0, Lot 11A – Amended Bylaw
2014-19 Area Structure Plan 862 2598, Block A, Lot 0 – Amended Bylaw
2013-25 Area Structure Plan 118RS, Block A, Lot A – Amended Bylaw
2013-12 Area Structure Future Land Use Plan Deleted and Replaced Bylaw
2013-11 Area Structure Plan Policies Amended and Deleted – Garage and Garden Suite Bylaw
2012-06 Area Structure Plan 902 0635, Lot A – Amended Bylaw
Relationship between Planning Documents
The hierarchy of documents within the MD of Opportunity’s land use planning framework is established by the MGA. The MGA requires that each level is consistent with the level above and below it, and that the policies or regulations within planning document(s) at each level may be implemented by those below them in the decision-making process. The MGA provides the legislative authority for municipal land use planning and decision-making, while the ALSA Regional Plan (or Land Use Policies in their absence) provides broad-based policy directions and principles for municipal land use planning, which are effected through statutory plans and bylaws. The statutory plans provide future direction for the development and use of lands at the fringe areas of the Municipality’s boundaries (IDP) or within the whole municipality (MDP) or smaller areas of the Hamlets in detail (ASP). The LUB regulates the use and development of land based on the policy directions of statutory plans, while the Subdivision and Development Regulation regulates subdivision planning in conjunction with the MGA, applicable statutory plans, and the Land Use Bylaw. The polices, standards, and other documents contain additional information or specific requirements outside statutory plans and the LUB documents that are considered for certain types of development permit and subdivision applications. Where there is a conflict or inconsistency between a higher-level planning document and a lower-level planning document, the higher-level planning document prevails to the extent of the conflict or inconsistency.
