This week's batch of calls for public engagement includes a neighbourhood structure plan for Snowberry, playgrounds in southeast Edmonton, and the future of the Town of Gibbons, along with other surveys and public hearings in Edmonton and the metro region.
Edmontonians are invited to provide feedback until March 1 on the neighbourhood structure plan for the Snowberry neighbourhood in the Decoteau area. Stantec submitted the plan on behalf of Brookfield Residential, NAC Management Group, and Rohit Communities.
The planning process for new suburban neighbourhoods begins with an area structure plan that outlines at a high level how a group of neighbourhoods will develop. It also locates major facilities, arterial roads, and general land uses. The area structure plan for Decoteau was approved in 2015.
After the area structure plan is approved, developers must come forward to request permission to start work on a neighbourhood structure plan. Council recently voted 8-5 to authorize the creation of a neighbourhood structure plan for Kettle Lakes, the final subdivision that will be constructed in Decoteau. Some councillors voted against authorizing that plan because the area's integrated infrastructure management plan shows the neighbourhood will not generate enough tax revenue to cover operating costs. "Effectively, when we approve neighbourhoods that we know operate at a net loss, we are approving future tax increases," Ward O-day'min Coun. Anne Stevenson told Postmedia.
Council authorized the creation of the Snowberry neighbourhood structure plan in September. The plan outlines the vision of the neighbourhood, residential densities, major roads and utilities, and the location of schools and parks. Administration said feedback will be used to inform the city's planning analysis and ensure all factors are taken into consideration. Residents can also give feedback at the public hearing, where council will eventually vote on the plan. That public hearing is yet to be scheduled. If council approves the plan, it will pave the way for the neighbourhood's rezoning, subdivision, and development.
The proposed Snowberry plan has five residential land uses ranging from low to high density, with an overall density of 45 units per hectare. The applicant has proposed a commercial area in the southwest of the neighbourhood and two school sites.
Stantec's neighbourhood structure plan proposes an overall density of 45 units per hectare, a commercial centre, and two schools, among other uses. (City of Edmonton)
Here are some other opportunities to provide input in the Edmonton metro region:
- Until Feb. 20: Strathcona County is collecting responses to its public satisfaction survey for a report to go to county council in June.
- Feb. 24: Leduc RCMP invite residents to attend the last in a series of public town halls to discuss 2026 policing priorities, review recent policing survey results, ask questions, and share feedback.
- Feb. 24: Sturgeon County will hold public hearings on a bylaw aiming to improve the enforcement of property development offences and the redistricting of land near the Villeneuve roundabout.
- Feb. 25: Edmonton is hosting a drop-in session seeking input on the planning of Blatchford's parks and open spaces.
- Feb. 26: Edmonton is holding drop-in events on playgrounds in Meyonohk and Weinlos parks ahead of construction.
- Until Feb. 28: Edmonton has extended the deadline for community feedback on Wîhkwêntôwin neighbourhood renewal.
- March 3: St. Albert will hold public hearings on two redistricting bylaws.
- Until March 4: Edmonton is looking for input for neighbourhood renewal in Parkview.
- Until March 5: The Edmonton Chamber of Commerce has opened a survey for business owners to share their concerns about how the rise of Alberta separatism could affect the economy.
- March 9: Leduc County is holding a public hearing to rezone a patch of urban reserve land for residential and recreational uses.
- March 23: Leduc County is holding a public hearing to rezone some land for residential and recreational purposes.
- Until March 27: Leduc County has launched its citizen satisfaction survey.
- Ongoing: Fort Saskatchewan is collecting feedback on policing priorities.
- Ongoing: The Town of Gibbons has opened a survey asking residents if Gibbons should remain a town or be dissolved into a Sturgeon County hamlet. This comes after the town's poor financial state came to light.
"Your turn" is Taproot's weekly collection of public engagement opportunities in the Edmonton region. Watch this space every Friday for opportunities to make your views known.