The Lacombe County council passed several bylaws at its regular meeting Apr. 9 after two public hearings were held.

One of the largest items on the agenda was a public hearing and subsequent discussion of the Municipal Development Plan (MDP) and Land Use Bylaw (LUB) review. Reeve John Ireland called the public hearing to order while the council meeting was placed on hold. Staff explained that important documents like the MDP and LUB are reviewed on a regular basis. “The annual review and bylaw update allows the County to strive for continual improvement in its planning policy,” stated the staff memo. “It ensures that the County’s planning framework is up to date with the needs of the community and current trends in land use planning.”

Some proposed changes included removing “recovery centre” nomenclature from the LUB, as the development it was applicable to will not move forward. “Genics Inc. is the landowner of the subject parcel and has indicated that since the bylaw amendment, the project has been abandoned by the proponent and will not be going forward,” stated the staff report.

As well, changes were proposed to how off-highway vehicles can be counted and stored in certain areas. Large storage buildings for recreational vehicle (RV) districts were also proposed. Staff further noted some changes were proposed later in 2026 related to renewable energy.

Staff presented written submissions from the public that included comments and concerns about solar project setbacks. A number of members of the public appeared to speak in person, and their concerns included subjects like solar development setbacks, potential energy centres near homes, multiple residences on a parcel, and opposition to a residential subdivision that had previously been approved. Councillors also considered written submissions from agencies.

After the public hearing was closed, councillors discussed proposed changes to both the MDP and LUB. Bylaw 1453/26 to amend Lacombe County’s Municipal Development Plan and Bylaw 1454/26 to amend Lacombe County’s Land Use Bylaw both received their third reading and were passed.

IDP deemed unnecessary

Lacombe County councillors also held a public hearing to rescind the Ponoka County/Lacombe County Intermunicipal Development Plan (IDP), which staff explained in a memo was no longer mandatory and was deemed unnecessary.

“The Ponoka County/Lacombe County Intermunicipal Development Plan was established at a time when all municipalities with shared boundaries were required by the Municipal Government Act (MGA) to adopt IDPs,” stated the staff memo. “However, the MGA no longer includes this requirement, and almost all of the policies of the Ponoka County/Lacombe County Intermunicipal Development Plan are reiterated in the County’s Municipal Development Plan.”

After Reeve Ireland called the public hearing to order, it became clear few organizations or people were concerned about this bylaw’s cancellation. Staff noted there were no written submissions either for or against the cancellation, and no one spoke in person for or against it.

Staff noted one confined feeding operation (CFO) near Chain Lakes that was of interest in the outgoing IDP, but also noted this operation would be included under other bylaws.

After the public hearing was closed, councillors considered rescinding the IDP. Councillors passed all three readings of Bylaw 1456/26 to rescind the Ponoka County/Lacombe County IDP.