The RM of Grahamdale will be holding a public hearing next week to consider public feedback to its application to join the Western Interlake Planning District, which would take responsibility for the administration of the RM’s building and planning regulations.
The RM of Grahamdale wants to join the WIPD in order to tap in to shared resources and ensure consistency for developers in the region, said the RM’s administrative assistant Justin Shannon.
“Amending the regulation and officially joining the WIPD means becoming a permanent member of the planning district,” said Shannon. “The value of a planning district is that it allows municipalities to pool resources to hire planning staff and a building inspector. Having a shared staff and eventually a shared development plan also means there is more consistency for developers within the region.”
The RM has had a contract with the WIPD since Jan 1, 2024, to administer its planning matters.
“The WIPD issues our development and building permits and administers our zoning by-law, organizing any hearing required under the planning act for variance orders, conditional use orders, zoning by-law amendments etc.,” said Shannon. “These public hearings still take place before the RM of Grahamdale council, with council making decisions on whether or not to approve their application.”
A public hearing is required under the Planning Act when applying to change the membership of a planning district, said Shannon.
“Its purpose is to demonstrate to the province that the RM of Grahamdale has given our residents and ratepayers the opportunity to be heard on joining the WIPD,” he said.
The public hearing will be held in Moosehorn in RM council chambers at 23 Government Road on Thursday, Feb. 6 at 2 p.m.
