Summer Village of South Baptiste

Hierarchy of Development Plans

Relationship Between Planning Documents
The Summer Village of South Baptiste follows a hierarchy of planning documents established by the Municipal Government Act (MGA). Each planning document must be consistent with the documents above it.
The planning framework works generally as follows:

Municipal Government Act (MGA) – Provides the legal authority and rules for municipal planning and land use decisions.
Intermunicipal Collaboration Frameworks (ICF) – provide for integrated and strategic planning, delivery and funding of services
Intermunicipal Development Plan (IDP) – Provides guidance for land use and development in areas where the Summer Village’s boundaries meet those of neighbouring municipalities.
Municipal Development Plan (MDP) – Provides the overall vision and policies for how land within the Summer Village should be developed and used in the future.
Land Use Bylaw (LUB) – Contains the specific rules that regulate development, including what types of development are permitted, where they can occur, and the requirements that must be met.

The Land Use Bylaw must follow the direction established by the statutory plans, such as the MDP and IDP. Development and subdivision decisions must also be consistent with these planning documents.

In simple terms, the MGA establishes the rules, the regional plan provides broader direction, the IDP and MDP establish the Summer Village’s planning goals and policies, and the Land Use Bylaw puts those policies into specific rules that apply to individual properties.
If two planning documents conflict, the higher-level document takes precedence over the lower-level document to the extent of the conflict.
This hierarchy helps ensure that individual development decisions are consistent with the Summer Village’s broader planning objectives.

INTERMUNICIPAL DEVELOPMENT PLAN (IDP)

The Baptiste Lake Intermunicipal Development Plan (IDP) is a statutory plan between Athabasca County and the Summer Villages of South Baptiste, Sunset Beach, West Baptiste, and Whispering Hills for lands around Baptiste Lake. The IDP was adopted by all municipalities as of September 2021 and is now in effect for the lands within the plan area.

The purpose of this IDP is to:

Coordinate land use policies, future development, and long-term growth within the plan area between the participating municipalities
Implement consistent land management goals
Reduce the possibility of future land use conflicts
Establish processes for communication, referral, and dispute resolution

INTERMUNICIPAL COLLABORATION FRAMEWORK (ICF)

The Intermunicipal Collaboration Framework is a list of services provided by neighboring communities.

MUNICIPAL DEVELOPMENT PLAN (MDP)

The Municipal Development Plan sets a plan for future development within the Summer Village of South Baptiste. It plans for the long term, roughly 10 years.

LAND USE BYLAW (LUB)

All Municipalities are required to enact a Land Use Bylaw providing for Land Use Zoning. This essentially classifies the type of development allowed on a parcel of land and contains rules for setback distances from property boundaries, total percentage of lot area covered by buildings, maximum height of buildings and other matters relative to development. Please consult the Summer Village of South Baptiste Land Use Bylaw for details. This bylaw contains the rules and regulations for the development of land in the Summer Village.

Permit Applications

The Summer Village of South Baptiste issues Development Permits under the auspices of the Land Use Bylaw.

South Baptiste Land Use Bylaw: Download

Development Permit Application

Permits for the foregoing disciplines are available from the Inspections Group in Edmonton who conduct inspections on behalf of the Summer Village which is accredited under the Alberta Safety Codes Act.

Download Application Forms from: http://www.inspectionsgroup.com/?p=permit_applications

Permits and Compliance Information: Inspections Group Permits and Compliance Information.