Council recently adopted a comprehensive planning document that outlines detailed guidelines for the future development of Sundre’s parks, open spaces and trails.
“It’s going to provide direction to the development industry (and) to the administration in setting some criteria in identifying capital projects that need to be done in conjunction with existing parks and trail systems that we have,” said Mike Marko, Sundre’s director of planning and economic development, in a presentation to council during the April 16 meeting.
“It also provides direction to the citizens of Sundre who we have been working with on an ongoing basis in developing this plan,” said Marko.
A pivotal stakeholder, he said, has been a working trails group that consists of representation from the Sundre Bike ’n’ Ski Club, Greenwood Neighbourhood Place, members of the medical community, the high school, as well as volunteer residents who enjoy recreational opportunities that facilitate a healthy lifestyle.
Administration recommended council approve the plan as a policy document that gives direction to continue working with user groups and developers to “build a park system that we can all use and enjoy,” he said.
Launie Burrows, a landscape architect with LA West who helped develop the plan, attended the meeting to offer some additional insight before council decided how to proceed.
After recapping the consultation process that involved online surveys and public engagement sessions before the plan’s final draft was compiled for council’s consideration, Burrows further elaborated on numerous elements included in the document.
“We wanted to create certain categories of open space parcels,” he said, outlining typologies such as sub-neighbourhood parks, neighbourhood parks, community parks, linear parks, natural parks and special use areas.
“In each of those categories, there are desired site locations that those parks would be allocated.”
Each typology has specific functional design elements and amenities that will help guide designers, landscape architects and engineers to ensure the parcels are developed in the correct locations. The plan also features a maintenance section that details expected levels of service from the municipality to make sure open spaces and parks are kept at a certain standard, he said.
A key element in the document is a chapter on pathways and trails, which provide connectivity between open space parcels as well as the downtown area, he said, adding typologies were also identified, such as regional pathways, local pathways, trails and boardwalks.
“Each of these has specific directives on where they should be placed and how they should be designed.”
Other considerations outlined in the plan include crime prevention through design, Fire Smart as well as a section that identifies potential plant species, he said.
“There are a number of plant materials both native and ornamental that grow in the area — this gives a list of those species,” he said, adding the list merely provides design recommendations and is by no means exhaustive.
To see the full plan, visit the Town of Sundre’s website and look for the April 16 meeting package in the “council meeting agendas and minutes” section under the “government” tab.
Coun. Cheri Funke addressed administration to express concerns shared by residents and user groups who are worried that once approved, the plan will just end up collecting dust on a shelf.
“What is our administration’s plan to actually follow through and integrate this into our infrastructure plans and capital plans in the future?”
Chief administrative officer Linda Nelson said projects would be administered through the budgeting process.
“In our capital budget, we are putting away — just as a start — $50,000 a year for pathways. So that’s a start and that’s the way you implement this, is through capital planning.”
Council could discuss and set priorities during the spring then review the budget in the fall with the goal of attempting to accomplish at least one project every year, she said.
Ian James, manager of community services, added the new planning document provides better guidance than a similar past plan, but does not outline specific projects or construction timelines.
Coun. Todd Dalke praised the plan and the effort that went into preparing the document, and said realistic expectations are outlined for developers or someone who wants to renovate a lot.
“It’s going to be a very valuable document. And today’s not the day to put in full swing of when this pathway is going to get built, or that one. It’s not the intent of the document. We’ll deal with that on a separate basis.”
Mayor Terry Leslie agreed the point of the plan was not so much to provide concrete details or timelines on specific projects, but rather to outline design guidelines to adhere to when developing projects in the future.
He added that the municipality has not sat idly by or ignored parks and open space development over the past number of years.
“Two councils ago there was a recreation master plan developed and out of that, there was $50,000 a year that went towards fixing playgrounds in the community.”
As the municipality moves ahead, the new plan will provide a framework for future projects. The document has to come first so that developers are aware of specific design expectations when drafting design proposals, he said.
Council unanimously carried Funke’s motion to adopt the plan.
