By Andrew de Souza

City voices concerns over provincial planning

Nov 17, 2010 | 5:36 AM

City staff and councillors had a chance to raise concerns over a proposed provincial planning strategy that could drastically effect future development in Prince Albert.

At issue is a set of guidelines, known as the Draft Statements of Provincial Interests (SPIs), which the province wants to enact. They would control how municipalities plan and develop.

The biggest concern for the city is that the SPIs would consider a large portion of the North Saskatchewan River’s banks, including much of the East Flat to be within a flood plain or flood way.

City planners have been warning council since the summer about the effect the guidelines would have on the city and members from Municipal Affairs held a presentation on Tuesday to discuss the project as a whole and ameliorate some concerns.

Karen Bolten, who was one of the presenters, said the rules that deal with flooding are part of a larger attempt to ensure public safety and not to try to demolish buildings or dissuade from development.

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“The reality in Prince Albert is that there is development there,” said Bolton.

“For the city, it’s less about thinking how you can change that. Really the discussion becomes what we can to do mitigate damage from flooding.”

In reports to city council, city planners expressed concerns that the SPIs were set to be made into legal requirements and public consultation would have little effect on changing that. Concerns were raised that the city would find itself having to conform to the provincial plan or have the city master plan rejected.

Martino Verhaeghe, another presenter, said there would in fact still be consultation. Even when the regulations were in place municipalities would still have the opportunity to plead their case, he added.

“Ultimately, the power to stop development is granted to (Municipal Affairs) by the (Planning and Development) Act, but that’s not the intent,” said Verhaeghe. “The intent is to ensure you have opportunities to have dialogue and work it out.

“These are not the final regulations,” he continued. “Municipal plans and policies will need to be consistent with what is enacted only insofar as it is practical.”

The ministry would take into consideration what it had learned from Tuesday’s open house as well as several others throughout the province and incorporate aspects of it into final regulations, Verhaeghe said.

The proposed SPI comprehensively lays out a vision for development in Saskatchewan by outlining 15 interests the province wants to protect, such as access to minerals, protection of water, public safety, First Nations’ rights, etc.

A copy of the summary is available here and the full text here. A copy of Tuesday’s presentation is available here.

adesouza@panow.com