FAQs

• The County of Grande Prairie has engaged ISL Engineering and Land Services Ltd. to prepare an Area Structure Plan that will guide future growth and development of the Northeast Clairmont area.

• No Area Structure Plan currently exists for this area.

• Area Structure Plans provide a framework for future land use and development of the Plan area, including transportation and infrastructure requirements.

• The Northeast Clairmont area was identified as a potential growth area for residential development in the County’s Growth and Economic Development Strategy. 

• The westerly portion of the Northeast Clairmont plan area is identified for Residential use and the easterly portion is identified as a Future Planning Area in the County’s Municipal Development Plan.

• The County is undertaking this project to ensure development in this area is consistent with County policies and supports the County’s vision for efficient and sustainable long term growth in the Hamlet of Clairmont.

• Community engagement will occur at major milestones during the preparation of the Area Structure Plan and Plan area landowners, County residents and stakeholders will have key roles in its development.

Please feel free to contact the County of Grande Prairie planning department at 780-513-3950 for further information.

Northeast Clairmont Area Structure Plan – Frequently Asked Questions

• What is an ASP?

Area Structure Plans (ASPs) provide a framework for the development of lands for commercial, industrial, and residential purposes. ASPs also ensure that development is conducted in a manner that is consistent with the goals, objectives, and policies of the County. They are prepared in accordance with the Municipal Government Act, Subdivision and Development Regulation and the County's Municipal Development Plan. For more information on the ASP process, please visit the County website’s Frequently Asked Questions page.

• Why is an Area Structure Plan needed?

The new ASP will provide detailed information specifically relating to future land use, transportation and servicing in the area. This will help to strategically guide any changes to land uses in the area and new development in the future. The ASP identifies what land uses are generally supported or not supported in the area and where they should be located.

• Will I be able to continue using my land for agricultural/farming and/or other purposes?

Yes, this ASP process and the approval of the ASP does not affect the current use of your land. You will continue to be able to use your land as you are doing now. If you decide that you want to do change how your land is used in the future, this ASP will act as a guide for doing so.

• Will my taxes change?

No, the approval of the ASP does not affect your taxes.

• What future land uses shall be allowed, and where will those uses go?

The County’s Municipal Development Plan identifies this area for Residential and Future Land Use Planning. As landowners and community members, you are a key stakeholder in this ASP process. Your insight into the unique features of the area, the challenges and issues that currently exist, will help shape the vision and future land uses for the area.

• Will the public infrastructure near my property be receiving any upgrades?

The approval of the ASP is not directly tied to any immediate infrastructure upgrades. Instead, your feedback regarding road use and maintenance, areas prone to flooding, and the condition of existing utilities, among others, is valuable and will help shape the policies, including the proposed land use concept, roadway network and servicing within the ASP area. The County has a separate process and funding for infrastructure upgrades and the ASP and future private development in the area helps to inform the County’s priorities related to infrastructure improvements and upgrades.

• Will the ASP protect natural areas and open space?

The County, along with the Province, has identified Clairmont Lake and surrounding wetlands as an environmentally significant area that is an important migratory bird habitat. The County also wants to increase recreational opportunities and trail connections in the region. This ASP will adhere to all federal, provincial, and County regulations regarding water quality, setbacks from sensitive areas and ravines, and may include additional protections and improvements for these natural areas based on feedback from landowners and members of the public.

• If the ASP is approved, what happens next?

An ASP is a high-level land use planning policy document that provides a concept of how a given area can be comprehensively developed over time. Should the ASP be approved by County Council, nothing occurs unless development is initiated by the landowner. Following approval of the ASP, if a landowner would like to change the current use of their land, they would require rezoning, subdivision and development permit approvals, and associated detailed engineering studies that are prepared by developers for individual parcels. None of these more detailed plans are required unless the landowner initiates them.