Home

Relationship Between Planning Documents

The hierarchy of documents within Northern Sunrise County’s land use planning framework is established by the Municipal Government Act (MGA). The MGA mandates that each level of planning document must be consistent with the levels above and below it, ensuring that the policies or regulations in documents at each level can be implemented by those below them in the decision-making process.

Key Components of the Framework:

  • Municipal Government Act (MGA): Provides the legislative authority for municipal land use planning and decision-making.

  • Alberta Land Stewardship Act (ALSA) Regional Plan or Land Use Policies: Offers broad-based policy directions and principles for municipal land use planning, which are implemented through statutory plans and bylaws.

  • Statutory Plans:

    • Intermunicipal Development Plans (IDPs): Guide development and land use at the fringe areas of the County’s boundaries.
    • Municipal Development Plan (MDP): Provides overarching direction for development and land use across the entire County.
    • Area Structure Plans (ASPs): Offer detailed guidance for the development and use of land in smaller areas of the County.

  • Land Use Bylaw (LUB): Regulates land use and development in line with the policy directions of statutory plans.

  • Subdivision and Development Regulation: Governs subdivision planning in conjunction with the MGA, relevant statutory plans, and the LUB.

  • Policies, Other Bylaws, and Documents: These contain additional or specific requirements beyond those in statutory plans and the LUB for reviewing and making decisions on development and subdivision applications. They apply either generally or to specific types of developments, subdivisions, or locations.

In cases of conflict or inconsistency between higher-level and lower-level planning documents, the higher-level document prevails to the extent of the conflict or inconsistency, ensuring a coherent and structured approach to land use planning.