Ponoka is planning for the future and town council want residents to have their say in the town’s growth.
After 15 years, Ponoka’s last municipal development plan (MDP) is being updated; the two-year process is nearing completion and the draft document is in the first stage of becoming the global plan for the town, explained Betty Jurykoski, planning and development officer. “What the MDP does is it gets you ready to plan.”
Without the MDP she feels there is no way to deal with a contractor or developer.
Every municipality with more than 3,500 people is required under the Municipal Government Act to have a MDP. Ponoka’s last plan was developed in 1997 and one reason it has not been amended is there have not been many changes in town. However recent annexation of land from Ponoka County has created a need to amend the document. “We quickly realized our plan doesn’t work anymore.”
“That was part of the driving factor for why we’re updating our 1997 plan,” added Jurykoski.
This new plan helped identify the area west of the Forest Home Cemetery would be better as industrial land and expansion for the cemetery, rather than residential as it was set in the 1997 plan. There is a relatively small amount of land left for industrial use, 13.3 acres, and the planning committee saw the need for more land.
“People are coming in and looking for land — serviced, ready to go land,” she stated.
There is other land available in certain pockets but this land is better suited for industrial use, she added. “We have plenty of lots for residential.”
The same categories have been used for the new plan, which is now in a consultant’s hands Bob Riddett, who used to be with West Central Planning Agency has conducted some work for Ponoka County and Jurykoski is eager to see his observations.
She believes the best way to manage a MDP is with an annual review to see if it continues to fit the town’s needs but that did not happen with the old MDP.
“At best these plans are supposed to formulated every five years,” explained Jurykoski.
However these reviews fell by the wayside due to planning commissions being phased out in 1995. The Town of Ponoka joined the inter-municipal West Central Planning Agency. She believes more of the planners’ time was spent on the larger cities. Ponoka separated from the commission recently and since then the town has been able to focus on bringing the MDP up to date. “We have saved money but also increased workload.”
Amending the MDP also showed a need to change the town’s 2005 master servicing study, which describes how all services are handled.
Jurykoski hopes Riddett’s comments will be ready at the end of May, then the committee will conduct an internal review. After the review, Riddett will host an open house — possibly in June — and everyone will be welcome including county residents. “We’re asking for your opinion.”
After the open house the committee can again review comments. She wants to ensure town council has a completed document when councillors have to decide on the plan. The goal is to have the plan completed and passed before the October election.