Frequently Asked Planning Questions

What is a Land Use Amendment?
A change of land use designation, approved following a public hearing of City Council.

What is a Land Use Bylaw?
The Town of Canmore Land Use Bylaw (09-99) is the bylaw that establishes procedures to process and decide upon land use and development applications and divides the Town into different land use districts. It sets out rules that affect how each piece of land in the Town may be used and developed. It also includes maps which show the actual zoning.

What is a Municipal Development Plan?
The Town of Canmore Municipal Development Plan is the senior strategic planning document guiding growth and development in Canmore. It contains policies relating to transportation, housing, tourism and other economic activity, recreation, environment/wildlife and social issues. It also provides the strategic framework for more detailed and specific plans, policies and programs.

What is a Statutory Plan?
A plan that is required by the Municipal Government Act, Part 17, Planning & Development, passed by bylaw and must be adhered to by subordinate plans and planning approvals. These plans can only be changed by amending the bylaw.

What is an Area Structure Plan?
An Area Structure Plan (ASP) is a statutory plan that establishes the general planning framework for future subdivision and development of an area of undeveloped land.

What is Bylaw 1-98(DC)?
Bylaw 1-98(DC), sometimes called the "Three Sisters Master Bylaw", is a special land use designation within the Town of Canmore Land Use Bylaw known as a direct control district which was passed by Town of Canmore Council in 1998 to create a framework to guide future planning and development of the entire Three Sisters lands in keeping with the Provincial approval of the project in 1992.

What is Land Use Designation (Zoning)?
The legal control on the use and intensity of development on a parcel of land.

What is the Municipal Government Act?
The provincial legislation that set out the procedures, types of arguments that can (and cannot) be considered on planning decisions and the rules that govern various planning processes. It replaced the Planning Act in 1995.

Why Area Structure Plans for Three Sisters?
Bylaw 1-98(DC), which is a special land use district that applies to Three Sisters Mountain Village, requires that Area Structure Plans be prepared for various areas within the project before other approvals can take place. The Resort Centre and Stewart Creek ASPs establish a general land use concept, describing the basic structure of transportation and trail networks, open space systems and key infrastructure components. The ASPs provide direction by giving detailed objectives and policies describing the vision of the community, as well as outlining how to develop private and public facilities and systems described within that vision. Two additional ASPs will be prepared for lands towards the east end of Three Sisters Mountain Village in the future.