Members of Landmark Planning & Design last week held presentations in Altona and Plum Coulee to update stakeholders on the upcoming revisions to the RPGA Planning District’s development plan.
With the provincial government requiring all development plans and zoning by-laws to be reviewed and updated every five years, the RPGA’s development plan—now over a decade old—is due for revision. The review process provides an opportunity to establish a new community vision, align with provincial policies, address current issues and key trends, update maps, and improve formatting.
Before work began on the development plan, a comprehensive background study was conducted for the district, which includes the communities of Rosenfeld, Plum Coulee, Gretna, and Altona. This study summarizes existing conditions and trends within the region, including population distribution changes, dwelling types, employment data, agricultural capability, and current land use designations.
Last week’s presentations included visioning workshops led by Landmark junior planner Lauren Sheedy and planner/partners Jeff Pratte, and Brendan Salakoh.
The goal was to hear from the community— their priorities, opportunities, challenges, and constraints—so that the planners could gain a strong local understanding to set the foundation for the development plan.
Altona’s two-hour session at the Millennium Exhibition Centre drew a range of community members, business owners, and council members.
Participants were divided into groups and asked to respond to specific questions about Altona’s development, such as what makes the RPGA District a great place to live and work, what would make it better, what are some of the district’s hidden gems, and what developments they would like to see in the region 20 years from now.
This input will be used by Landmark to help guide objectives, policy directions, and mapping. The team will incorporate the background study, engineering study, and all community feedback to lay the foundation for the new development plan.
“While the development plan cannot directly solve issues, it sets the foundation for community initiatives to take shape,” Sheedy explained. “A well-structured plan enables the type of development people want to see.
“Having a comprehensive plan makes it easier to secure funding, as it provides a polished, professional, and data-driven approach that decision-makers look for,” she added. “The plan also ensures that infrastructure investments align with long-term goals, helping to keep budgets aligned, infrastructure spending strategic, and policy objectives clear.”
Sheedy was impressed with the level of engagement from attendees, noting that the discussions on vision were especially strong.
“There were diverse opinions, but that diversity helps highlight what needs updating. Several common themes emerged during discussions, including affordable housing, which was a major concern for many attendees, as well as entrepreneurship and business development, education and healthcare, active transportation to improve connectivity between communities, and senior housing, which was frequently mentioned.”
The next phase involves finalizing the background studies. Likely within the next month, the team will begin drafting the development plan itself. They will start at the highest level with vision statements, then move to policy objectives and mapping changes. This process is expected to take one to two months.
Once the draft is prepared, the planning district will review it internally before conducting an informal review with the provincial government, which has final approval authority.
The team will work with the municipalities and the planning district to finalize the draft, then return to the community to present the results and gather final feedback.
The formal approval process will culminate with a public hearing later in the year.
