The county and town of St. Paul have both passed the first reading of a proposed bylaw aimed at attracting investors and developers to the region.
This marks a step in the development of the St. Paul North Intermunicipal Area Structure Plan (IASP), which began in the summer of 2021. The plan covers 588.4 hectares north of town, with land falling within both the town and county boundaries.
Both municipalities will hold public hearings before advancing to the second and third readings. The town’s public hearing is set for February 24, while the county’s will take place the following day on February 25.
The IASP and its linked Traffic Impact Assessment (TIA) were approved by Alberta Transportation and Economic Corridors (ATEC) on January 24, allowing the municipalities to move forward.
The TIA evaluates how future development could impact traffic flow, which according to town of St. Paul’s Director of Planning Aline Brousseau, is a crucial component of the development process. CAO Steven Jeffery noted that while developing the IASP involved challenges, it was necessary to pave the way for future growth. “A lot of back and forth. Sometimes two steps forwards and five steps back,” he said, acknowledging the complexity of the process.
St. Paul Mayor Maureen Miller emphasized the importance of the IASP in providing economic opportunities for both the town and county, which would expand their revenue streams. “Our community is highly dependent on residential tax base,” Miller said. “This IASP is about making a positive plan for developers to choose our community to develop in.”
