Topic 1: What is a Municipal Development Plan and How Does it Affect Me?

What is a Municipal Development Plan?
A Municipal Development Plan (MDP) is required by the province and is our primary guiding document for land use planning and community development. It sets the vision and policies for the County’s land planning and development, and helps Council and staff make decisions, especially ones that will impact the community for the next 10 to 20 years.
The MDP also guides some of our other land use plans like Area Structure Plans, Land Use Bylaws, and Subdivision control.

How does the MDP affect me?
Whether you live on a farm, acreage, or in a hamlet, the MDP affects you! The current MDP has guidelines and policies on:
• Residential, Commercial/Industrial, Recreation, and Energy Developments in the County
• Development and protection of agricultural land
• Confined feeding operations (locations, setbacks, etc.)
• Infrastructure (roads, water, wastewater)
• Development near urban municipalities
• Hamlet growth
• Economic development and growth
• Environmental conservation, watersheds, and flood mitigation

Why does Lethbridge County need an updated Municipal Development Plan?
The current MDP is from 2008 and there have been many changes in development trends and provincial land use legislation since then. After using the document for the last decade, we need to update it to:
• Make the document and policies more user friendly for staff, Council, developers, and the public
• Organize amendments that have occurred since 2008
• Incorporate growth areas, maps and policies from our Intermunicipal Development Plans
• Add policies/direction from other studies the County has completed (e.g. Industrial-Commercial Land Use Strategy, Grouped County Residential Strategy, Hamlet Growth Studies)
• Address provincial legislative changes and requirements
• Consider economic circumstances and growth opportunities
• Reflect Council’s vision of how Lethbridge County should grow, develop and prosper into the future

What stage is the MDP review at?
There three key phases in the review and update of the Municipal Development Plan:
1. Research and Analysis
2. Preparation and Development
3. Finalization

Phase 1 has been completed by Lethbridge County administration and the project is moving into Phase 2, where administration will be meeting regularly with Council to determine the best direction for the plan. Initial consultations with some stakeholders have already begun for specific aspects of the plan.

To review the current MDP, click on the link under the "Documents" tab on the right side of this page.