Rocky View County Reeve Greg Boehlke will be representing the county on the Calgary Metropolitan Region Board currently in the early stages of developing the framework for the new regional growth management plan.

In his re-election bid, Boehlke expressed interest in continuing to represent RVC's position in determining the direction of the Calgary region growth management board. He's well versed in the issues of interest to the county from previously representing their position.

The county reluctantly became involved in the process after the growth board was mandated by the provincial government.

Boehlke says RVC has always been in favour of regional planning but says shouldn't be a case of one model fits all and should allow for a range of densities as deemed appropriate by partner municipalities.

He says RVC is not opposed to growth and has provided 60,000 acres of land to adjacent municipalities to allow them to grow.

"We believe in collaborating and working with our neighbours to help them grow and believe we should have the right to grow as well."

Boehlke says they also should have the right to grow in a planned manner and with a density that suits their residents. He doesn't believe municipalities should be obliged to follow a cookie-cutting model of larger urban centres like Calgary.

In the past, the county believed the City of Calgary had too much authority in the voting process and refused to become a member of the Calgary Regional Partnership that will soon be dissolved.

Recently, county officials pointed to how the capital growth management board in the Edmonton area saw a Beaumont, AB plan supported by 80 per cent of member municipalities vetoed by the City of Edmonton. They don't want to see the same inequity here.

"Just because you don't like someone's growth, you shouldn't be allowed to stop them," he says, pointing to the Beaumont ruling.

Having to use a veto actually points to the flaw in the voting system, he points out, and it's something you shouldn't have to use to resolve differences.

In addition, the county takes issue with the lack of an appeal process. Appeals are allowed but you make them to the same board that originally turned it down. Boehlke believes this is against the rule of law and the appeal should be made to a separate and independent body.

The new body isn't expected to have its regional growth and servicing plan completed until Jan. 1, 2021 and an interim growth plan is scheduled to be completed by this September. Any planning decisions made by Dec. 31, 2017 are considered grandfathered, but those reached afterward are expected to comply with the interim growth plan.

The county named Deputy Reeve Jerry Gautreau as the alternate. Failure to have a representative at any of the meetings means it is assumed the municipality votes in favour of any affirmative motion tabled.

The board came into effect Jan. 1 and besides Calgary will include representatives of Airdrie, Chestermere, Cochrane, High River, Okotoks, Strathmore, RVC, Municipal District of Foothills and a portion of Wheatland County.

Serving on two committees dealing with different aspects of the growth management board, Boehlke says he expects to be attending 30 to 50 meetings this year.

Mayor Jeff Genung is Cochrane's elected official representative.