Saskatoon and surrounding communities pass 'historic' regional plan

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The planning district is made up of three documents: a planning district agreement, an official community plan and a zoning bylaw. The councils passed the first two at the meeting; the zoning bylaw is still in development.

Sarnecki said its benefits include a collaborative approach to support growth, consistent decision-making, a mechanism for dispute resolution, and coordination of infrastructure and services.

The meeting heard that the district is aimed at making the region more competitive as a whole, with co-operation preferable to municipalities competing with each other to attract investment.

“Ultimately the plan provides a comprehensive framework for planning and development within the (region),” Sarnecki said.

Cowessess First Nation owns land in the R.M. of Corman Park. Chief Cadmus Delorme told the meeting the First Nation aims to obtain reserve status for those lands “as soon as possible.”

He said there is no obligation to enter into any agreement as a precondition for obtaining that status.

“We just want to make sure that as rights-holders that we’re respected. We do want the land developed; we did purchase it for one purpose, and that’s economic development,” Delorme said.

The final piece of the strategy, the zoning bylaw, is expected to come up for approval in the coming months.

In a letter submitted before the meeting, George and Sylvia Baynton — he is a retired Court of Queen’s Bench judge — said they would be concerned if the bylaw permits a parachute operation to use land north of the city.