Strathmore and Wheatland Intermunicipal Collaboration Framework (ICF) and Intermunicipal Development Plan (IDP)

ICF

Introduced in 2016 under the Modernized Municipal Government Act (MGA), an Intermunicipal Collaborative Framework (ICF) is a legislated requirement between municipalities who share a common boundary. An intermunicipal Collaboration Framework is a tool to facilitate cooperation between neighbouring municipalities, and to ensure municipal services are provided to residents efficiently and cost-effectively.

Under the MGA, an ICF must:

• Provide integrated and strategic planning, delivery, and funding of inter-municipal services;
• Steward important resources efficiently to provide local services; and
• Ensure municipalities contribute funding to services that benefit their residents.

IDP

An IDP is a long-term strategic growth plan between two or more municipalities. Municipalities who share a common boundary are required to have an IDP in accordance with the Municipal Government Act (MGA). The purpose of an IDP is to provide a coordinated and collaborative land use, servicing and transportation framework for areas where the municipalities share a joint interest.

Under the MGA, an IDP must address:

• future land uses,
• future development proposals,
• provision of transportation systems,
• environmental matters,
• coordination of intermunicipal physical, social, and economic programs,
• other matters related to physical, social or economic development,
• conflict resolution procedures,
• plan amendment procedures, and
• overall plan administration.

The ICF provides a framework for cost-sharing of services amongst municipalities. The IDP is the plan that fosters a collaborative planning approach for lands along the common border between two municipalities.

The IDP will help to ensure the Town and County maintain the characteristics, vision, and goals unique to each community, while coordinating future growth development patterns. 

IDPs allow municipalities to:

• promote consultation, coordination and cooperation regarding planning matters of joint interest within a defined planning area;
• provide a framework for addressing land use concerns with regard to joint planning matters;
• establish a procedure for dealing with development proposals within a defined planning area; and
• address any other matters relating to development considered necessary within a joint planning area.

An IDP is a long-term land use and servicing plan that addresses how the Town and County are to manage their respective future growth needs. As these plans address long-term future land use and development opportunities for these areas, landowners must be involved in the process and provide input on the future use of these lands.

The future approval of the new IDP will not affect current land use activities or development rights and will not affect your taxes. It only addresses future development over the long term.

An IDP should not be viewed as an impediment to development. Rather, it reinforces and protects both municipalities’ development philosophies and goals, while mitigating the potential for future conflict. IDPs anticipate that development may occur within the plan area and provide a framework for ensuring that it proceeds in an orderly, economic, efficient, harmonious, and sustainable manner.

The project team has gathered and reviewed feedback from the public, the Intermunicipal Collaboration Committee, and staff from both municipalities, and have completed the draft ICF.