Municipal Development Plan and Land Use Bylaw Review

Project Background

The Town of Drayton Valley has engaged ISL Engineering and Land Services Ltd. to undertake a comprehensive review and update of the Municipal Development Plan (MDP) and Land Use Bylaw (LUB). An MDP is a statutory plan adopted by local bylaw which guides growth and development – providing a framework for more detailed and specific plans, policies and programs. The LUB regulates land use and development – organizing a municipality into Land Use Districts and outlining the permitted and discretionary uses within each District.

The Town’s MDP was adopted in 2012 and the LUB in 2007 and much has changed in the area since then, including annexations in 2011 and 2012. These updates will ensure the documents continue to address emerging trends in the town and reflect the changing needs of the residents.

What is the LUB?

• Every municipality in Alberta is legally required to pass a Land Use Bylaw (LUB)
• The LUB regulates the use, conservation, and development of land, habitat, buildings, and signs in pursuit of orderly development within Town boundaries.
• It sets the process for applying for a Development Permit, Development Permit issuance and Development Permit approval, and appeal of Development Permit decisions.
• It sets the parameters for Development Permit conditions, enforcement for non-compliance with the LUB, and Development Permit conditions.

Project Update

Over the past few months the Town has been reviewing and revising the LUB to better reflect current trends and best practices and the LUB was passed by Town Council on January 20, 2021. The MDP review was put on hold to focus on the LUB and it is anticipated that the MDP review and update will resume in 2022.

Changes Since First Reading

Since First Reading, the LUB was circulated to relevant commenting agencies (Brazeau County, Alberta Municipal Affairs, Alberta Environment and Parks) as well as the Town’s legal counsel. Changes include:

• Additional clarity regarding Stop Orders (an order made if/when development does not comply with the regulations of the LUB or a condition of a Development Permit, Variances from regulations, deemed Development Permit refusals, Development Permit extensions, Securities
• Updated height and density regulations in various land use districts to provide greater clarity for the development community.
• Minor grammatical changes.

Why We Repealed Former LUB 2007/24/D

Much has changed since the previous LUB was adopted in 2007, including annexations in 2011 and 2012 and changes to the local economy which meant that it no longer met the needs of our community. The previous LUB was not user-friendly for the development community or Town Administration and regulations of the LUB had to be updated to comply with recent legislative changes.

Community Engagement

Residents and stakeholders will have key roles in the MDP and LUB update process. In April and September 2020, a community survey was used to gather feedback from residents and stakeholders about their priorities and perspectives related to social well-being, the local economy and Drayton Valley’s natural and built environment. The feedback shared was used to inform the updates to the LUB.

MDP/LUB April Feedback Summary

MDP/LUB September Feedback Summary

Final Draft

Review the final Land Use Bylaw Draft below:

Drayton Valley Land Use Bylaw Final Draft

Project Timeline

Contact Information

For any questions or additional information about this project, please contact:

Matt Ellis, BES, RPP, MCIP
Senior Planner and Assistant Director of Emergency Management
Town of Drayton Valley
(T) 780-514-2203
(E) mellis@draytonvalley.ca