A Moment with the Mayor: Planning for our future

A task I continue to learn about is planning and development and the layers that exist regarding the entire planning process.

We’re working with a consultant who is leading the process of updating the Municipal Development Plan (MDP) – Connection to our Future. As the City’s highest level planning document, the MDP acts as a blueprint that shows how we expect the community to change over time. It’s often described as ‘the view from 30,000 feet’ to reflect the conceptual plan for the next 30 years.  

Connection to our Future has many things that it’ll provide but also many things it does not give us. 

Connection to our Future gives us a big-picture plan and acts as an overarching framework for future decision-making. Future population growth and needs, municipal servicing, financial responsibility and social equity must be considered when preparing this document. All input and feedback will be compiled and reviewed to establish the community’s values and will later be presented to Council for approval. To date, our Planning department has worked with the community to establish the following values: Belonging, Culture, Ecology, Innovation, Health and Initiatives. We believe these values will hold our community together no matter what the future brings. 

With the recent annexation of land on the city’s western and south border, it’s a critical time for us to consider the future of our city and what we aspire to be in the future. Connection to our Future will establish the framework for future decision marking about area structure plans and neighbourhood structure plans. These two documents will provide Council and residents with more detail on the specific type of development that can be anticipated in various areas of the city. 

Forward-thinking is a critical aspect of planning. Federal and provincial policies and legislation continue to change, which requires Council and Administration to be proactive. Elements of the city that are being considered include urban form, mobility and connectivity, climate resiliency, social equity and fiscal responsibility. Connection to our Future will not define the specifics of what these will look like in Lloydminster; however, they will set the stage and open new and unique opportunities for development (possibly tiny homes!). 

Updating the existing MDP has been a massive project with potentially far-reaching implications. City Council will work diligently with Administration to understand potential issues and challenges and create a proactive solution to minimize challenges our community, residents and developers may face. We have history to learn from and a future to dream about. 

Growth and development are great reasons to continue to look toward the future and plan for what we want our city to look, feel and function like. We’re a community looking at the needs, wants and dreams of our community residents and our surrounding area as we continue to serve as a regional center of commerce, trade and health.

Visit connectlloyd.ca for more information about Connection to our Future.

Mayor Gerald S. Aalbers
City of Lloydminster