The Capital Region Board got a provincial thumbs-up Thursday for its vision of a denser, transit friendly, compact and sustainable region.
The sign-off allows the board to start implementing its long-term plan, but the provincial OK didn't come with the dollars to make it a reality.
Premier Ed Stelmach and Municipal Affairs Minister Hector Goudreau both attended Thursday's meeting to announce their support. Stelmach said the plan is going to keep the area competitive.
"This is an important group that has done very important work that sets the foundation for future growth," he said. "It does contribute to the competitiveness of the Capital region in the province and indeed in the country."
Goudreau told the assembled board members their plan would be remembered as an important part of the history of the area.
"The true impact will probably be felt by our grandkids in 25 or 30 years."
St. Albert Mayor Nolan Crouse said the board still has a lot of heavy lifting to do, but the province's approval will help them build on what they have.
"We have a long way to go with many, many topics to work on, so for the province to approve it at this stage is very, very important."
Edmonton Mayor Stephen Mandel said the board had done more than simply draft a plan; it has brought area politicians together.
"I have got to know my regional mayors, become friends with them and worked with them and understood their vision."
New vision
The growth plan sets out a vision for a tighter region with communities closest to the centre experiencing more growth. St. Albert is within one of several priority growth areas that would see more of the region's growth, but new development would have to be denser than the city has historically been.
Compared to some existing neighbourhoods in the city, residential density would be nearly twice what it is today, meaning many more multi-family units and fewer single-family homes.
The Sturgeon Valley area would continue to see acreage development, but clustered into tighter forms taking up less area with smaller lots.
Costs, but no cash
The regional plan also envisions a lot of major projects to expand the area's public transit infrastructure and create more affordable housing.
Crouse said the board decided to come up with a plan first and worry about paying for it later.
"It is a little bit of a chicken and egg thing, but we really feel we had to have the plan before the funding."
He said finding the dollars will remain a significant challenge.
"From a funding point of view there is really two elephants in the room; one is funding for regional public transit and the other is regional housing."
The plan calls for cost sharing on large regional projects, but Crouse said any of those projects would need support from the provincial and federal governments.
Goudreau committed to funding the board's ongoing operation until March 2011. He said beyond that the government would have funds, but possibly not at the same level.
While non-committal on exact dollar totals, Goudreau said as a combined force the board will be able to get the government's attention on funding requests.
"It is much easier to work with a group that represents a large area than with a number of different municipalities and if they come to us with a particular idea or particular issue it is much easier to deal with that."
