Cochrane and Rocky View County (RVC) are at polar opposites on the final draft of the Calgary Metropolitan Regional Plan.

In separate meetings, both sat down yesterday to decide how they will cast their vote at this Friday's Calgary Metropolitan Region Board (CMRB) meeting on the final drafts of the vision, growth plan, and service plan.

RVC council has rejected the draft and has released the regional growth and servicing draft plans to the public. Councillors Samanntha Wright and Kevin Hanson were opposed. Crystal Kissel was absent.

At the Cochrane town council meeting, only councilors Patrick Wilson and Morgan Nagel stood opposed to the plan. They believe it will take away Cochrane's autonomy, particularly if the municipality chooses to deviate from its current direction.

At the RVC council meeting, the plan came under heavy fire from councillors Greg Boehlke and Kim McKylor.

"Rocky View County is not, in my opinion at least, adverse to regional cooperation and regional collaboration," said Councillor Boehlke. "In proof of this, we have well over 100 agreements that we have negotiated and maintained. We are just not in favor, at this time, with a plan to plan."

Calling the plan disappointing after expending upwards of his estimate of $2.5 million in provincial and municipal government resources, Boehlke tabled a lengthy motion that clearly laid out the county's objections.

RVC council believes the plan limits growth in rural counties, except in pockets, and only then under the supervision of urban centres. In contrast, RVC says it allows growth to occur freely in urban centres with minimal board oversight.

Because of this, RVC believes the plan limits its economic growth, to the extent of threatening its sustainability and ability to provide infrastructure for the agricultural industry.

RVC says it denies the opportunity to continue to create jobs, dismisses best rural planning practices, increases red tape, is costly for municipalities, and its service plan is incomplete.

It also believes the plan fails to speak to the need to restrict the expansion of urban boundaries.

In Cochrane, the plan was viewed to be consistent with the town's vision document and will enable municipalities to work cooperatively. In that document, the town does foresee further annexation of county land.

Mayor Jeff Genung, also the CMRB vice-chair, says Cochrane does lose some control but believes the good outweighs the bad.

He says the current working relationship between rural and urban centres is problematic.

"Really, the purpose for us being around the table in the first place is that the status quo is not working. The urban and rural differences are not making good financial sense for anyone."  

He says the former volunteer regional planning board was vacated by the rural municipalities. This time around, membership has been made mandatory by Alberta Municipal Affairs.

One of the major reasons the rural counties say they vacated the former board was concern over the amount of control it provided the City of Calgary. An attempt at arbitration failed.

RVC believes the new board continues to favour Calgary.

Cochrane town councillor Morgan Nagel has consistently been opposed to the very concept of the regional planning board since first elected.

"I don't like the idea of centralized planning, I don't like the idea of being part of a board where Calgary has veto power, and I don't like the idea of us telling our neighbours how they have to develop."

He says the plan encourages Cochrane to move further towards compact transit-oriented design, something that is in complete contrast to his belief in lower density, traditional-style development

Councilor Patrick Wilson saw merit in sections of the plan but voted in opposition because he remains concerned with the autonomy Cochrane will surrender.

A recent survey completed by the CMRB indicates the majority of residents in all of the urban municipalities and counties in the region are opposed to the plan. The strongest opposition came from the three counties, Strathmore and Okotoks.

In Cochrane, 49.1 per cent are opposed and 32.8 in favour, with the balance neutral.

In Rocky View County, 50 per cent are opposed and 40 per cent in favour. There was a very similar result in Calgary.

Two extensions have been provided for the completion of the plan by Alberta Municipal Affairs. The current deadline is June 1.

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