The amendment, passed by an order-in-council November 25, nixes the power of municipalities to order the submission of reports to a council prior to an actual development permit application.
The government's action was a fairly direct response to the Town of Canmore's practice of requiring what are known as sustainability screening reports for developments of significant size prior to the regular development permit screening process.
The town wanted reports to detail how a project would add to the long-term sustainability of Canmore and address items such as environmental concerns and affordable housing - a longtime issue in the Rocky Mountain community.
The change in the regulations was hailed by Canmore development industry officials but predictably weren't embraced by Canmore Mayor Ron Casey.
"The side that bothers me the most is the provincial government changing regulations for the entire province to deal with something that is a local issue," Casey told the Rocky Mountain Outlook.
Municipalities will continue to be able to use screening reports to deal with items such as proposed changes in land-use bylaws, subdivisions and municipal development plans, but won't be able to provide the extra level of non-appeal scrutiny to development permit applications.
from Western Investor, January 2011
