Planning and research is critical to the efficient growth and development of our City. Here are many of the documents, plans, studies and reports that guide Council and administration in the decisions they make and understanding the impact of those decisions on the community and its future.
The Municipal Government Act (MGA) is the provincial legislation that empowers municipalities to govern the development of lands within their boundaries. The MGA outlines requirements for all statutory plans and processes related to planning in the city.
The Alberta Land Stewardship Act sets out the legal basis for regional planning in Alberta and mandates that all local government bodies’ regulatory instruments must be in compliance with the applicable regional plans.
The Land Use Framework sets out the Province's approach to manage public and private lands and natural resources to achieve Alberta's long-term economic, environmental and social goals. The framework establishes seven broad land-use planning regions within the Province. The City of Airdrie falls within the South Saskatchewan Region.
The South Saskatchewan Regional Plan addresses economic, environmental and social objectives in land-use planning at the regional level. The City of Airdrie is required to demonstrate alignment with the provisions of the plan in all of its planning documents.
Learn more about the South Saskatchewan Regional Plan
The Growth Plan, created by the Metropolitan Regional Board provides planning direction and guidance on certain areas of regional significance related to population and employment growth, land-use, infrastructure and services. Any statutory plan passed or amended by member municipalities shall conform with the Growth Plan.
The Airdrie City Plan, adopted in 2014, is the City’s Municipal Development Plan (MDP) and provides policy direction to guide the city’s growth. Policy areas include growth management, environmental sustainability, fiscal sustainability, economic prosperity, community design and development, sustainable transportation, parks, pathways & municipal reserve, educational facilities, infrastructure services, community & recreation facilities and implementation.
The Intermunicipal Development Plan was approved by both Rocky View County and the City of Airdrie in 2001 and outlines a coordinated and cooperative framework for managing the use and development of lands adjacent to the boundary of Airdrie and Rocky View County.
Specific control over land use is provided through the Land Use Bylaw. The Bylaw divides the city in land use / zoning districts and establishes regulations and standards governing land use and development in each district.
The AirdrieONE Plan describes the community's vision for a sustainable future and proposes goals, objectives, targets and strategies to achieve that vision. The plan provides objectives and strategies for developing on-the-ground actions so that Airdrie can continue to thrive in the long term. Implementation of AirdrieONE occurs through many of the City's existing mechanisms, including budgets, plan development, regulations, policies and programs.
The aim of the Principled Approach to Growth Report is to create a series of planning principles that will ensure a future that is socially, environmentally and financially sustainable. The principles in the report are meant to establish sustainable planning to create healthy communities that reflect smart growth patterns.
The Growth Strategy Update involved a review of the population and employment projections and the associated land demand analysis to reflect the newest growth scenarios, development demands, municipal policies and priorities and regional growth trends. By identifying and confirming growth projections, the City can plan for an adequate inventory of residential, commercial, industrial land and public services. This study will be used to guide decisions on future development patterns and the sequencing of growth. The study area includes all the lands within Airdrie’s current corporate limits.
The 12 Thousand Acres Plan (12K Plan) is considered the City’s Growth Management Plan and is a non-statutory document intended to guide Council’s decision making on future development within the annexation lands. The 12K Plan lays the groundwork for how development will happen within the areas annexed by the City in 2012 and:
The Great Places Plan provides a 25 year vision and plan for open space development in Airdrie. Some of the highlights of the plan include a vision and principles for park development, town-scape analysis, a comprehensive concept of open space developmen, and an implementation section which provides action strategies.
The Utility Master Plan focuses on water distribution and wastewater collection to meet long-range strategic and sustainable goals for the City of Airdrie
The Master Stormwater Drainage Plan discusses key aspects of the planning, analysis, design and construction of future stormwater management systems in Airdrie. The Plan is intended to assist City staff, community developers and landowners planning to develop lands within the City. By following the recommendations of this plan, it is expected that the rate of growth in Airdrie will not outpace the collective ability to protect the natural environment from the potentially harmful effects of stormwater runoff.
Municipal infrastructure, such as roads, sidewalks and water systems are important assets to the City of Airdrie. They are critical components of our community, driving economic growth, ensuring public safety, and enhancing our overall quality of life. Finding a way to manage the sustainability of these assets as they age, is very important.
Maintaining and developing the City's assets is a balance of managing financial resources to maintain existing infrastructure while guiding the growing demands for service increases. Timely budget allocations are essential in this process to avoid the potentially costly consequences of delayed infrastructure investments.
To help us determine the funding needed to support our infrastructure long-term, we have developed of the State of Infrastructure Report.
The Transit Master Plan provides a short and long-term framework for the future of transit services operated by Airdrie Transit.
The Transportation Master Plan is a high-level planning document that is intended to align Airdrie policies, studies and planning documents into a complementary transportation network planning strategy.
To ensure uniform and orderly street labelling and house/building numbering system, the Street Naming Policy and Civic Addressing Manual were created so that geographic locations can be found quickly and without incident as the City grows.
In 2008, the Nose Creek Watershed Water Management Plan was completed as a means to protect riparian areas and improve water quality. The plan recognized that watershed management is a shared responsibility. Common goals and objectives were identified to maintain the ecological integrity (function) of the watershed and minimize risks associated with land-use and development.
The intention of the Ecological Inventory and Environmental Best Practices Study is to inform development planning in a way that protects networks of natural features not only for their ecological value but also for the value of the services they can provide to enable Airdrie to manage its long-term growth in a sustainable manner.
View Ecological Inventory and Environmental Best Practices Study (pdf)
The City of Airdrie has created an Integrated Pest Management Plan to help decide if pesticides will be used in specific areas of Airdrie, and if so, how they will be applied. This model was created through public consultation and provides the City with guidance on appropriate pest management options.
The intent of the Municipal Reserve Policy is to provide guidance to best utilize City dedicated land and provide best practices to maximize Municipal Reserve dedication that contribute to the larger open space system.
The policy will affect the overall quality of life for residents by ensuring the City appropriately dedicates Municipal Reserve and ensure a range of open spaces to meet the needs of all residents.
The purpose of the Dedication and Environment Reserves Policy is to provide guidance regarding the City's intentions with respect to the dedication and use of environmental reserves, and environmental reserve easements. This policy applies to decisions of the Subdivision Authority concerning environmental reserves and/or environmental reserve easements, as well as agreements with landowners and/or developers with respect to environmental reserves.
View the Dedication and Environment Reserves Policy (pdf)
In conjunction with the ER Policy, The City also has a Wetland Policy.
This Biophysical Inventory and Biophysical Impact Assessment Framework establishes the City’s process and requirements for provision and review of standardized biophysical information in support of land development applications.
The objectives of this framework are to:
View Biophysical Inventory & Biophysical Impact Assessment Framework (pdf)
Master Site Plans are prepared to support the development of a mixed-use, commercial, industrial, large residential or other large site requiring comprehensive planning and site design.
The goal of this document is to provide the Development and Building Industry, as well as the City of Airdrie with an easy to read, illustrative design manual for Mixed Use neighbourhoods and buildings within the City of Airdrie.
Highland Park is located in the northeast quadrant of the City of Airdrie situated adjacent to the QEII Highway and Veterans Blvd. These Highland Park Industrial Design Guidelines provide guidance, in addition to City of Airdrie policies, for the development of the lands. The purpose of these guidelines is to assist owners and their consultants in preparing development plans which will contribute to the overall aesthetic.
The following document outlines the Kingsview Market Design Guidelines for Kingsview Market in Airdrie. Kingsview Market is located in southeast Airdrie and contains a mix of residential, commercial, retail, and business development. These guidelines are intended to provide the appropriate criteria for design and construction, adding consistent application of design integrity to the Centre.
This document is to be in place and approved by the City at the Land Use stage. This document is prepared and submitted by the developer and is to be used by developers, builders and the City as a guideline for the design and look of the R-1SL and R-1N product in a given neighbourhood.
View the R-1N and R-1SL Guidelines and Product Book Requirements (pdf)
The proposed Creekside Crossing Conceptual Phasing Plan, creates a commercial area expansion of Airdrie’s Downtown to accommodate a range of retail and medical office uses with secondary residential. The development is focused on a central pedestrian spine with an outdoor public amenity along the Nose Creek Waterway. The purpose of this amenity will be to accommodate local events and street performers festivals, farmer’s markets, children’s festivals and make the development a focal point of the downtown core.
General design standards and construction specifications are used for developments within the City of Airdrie. The primary focus of these specifications is to ensure that a standard set of overall objectives are realized for design and construction within the City.
Learn more about General Design Standards and Construction Specifications
The Standard Landscape Guidelines & Specifications document contains the technical information necessary to meet the City’s overall landscape development objectives and requirements as identified in Council approved plans.
Learn more about the Standard Landscape Guidelines and Specifications
Airdrie's Economic Strategy sets a vision and outlines high-level priorities and actions to guide economic growth and sustainability over the next ten years. The purpose of Airdrie’s Economic Strategy is to ensure our community maintains a high quality of life, prosperity for businesses and jobs for residents.
Airdrie’s Growth Report: Tracking Development and Change provides metrics and data for the immense activity and growth in the City.
In 2014, the City of Airdrie conducted a Community Needs Assessment, which was intended to provide an overview of the City’s strengths, and to identify key areas where improvement was needed. The assessment is a valuable resource for community planning and direction.
In 2016, the City of Airdrie reached out to the City’s youth (aged 12-24) to understand what they felt was needed to be engaged members of their communities. This feedback and information ultimately created the Youth Needs Assessment which established the foundation of the City’s Youth Engagement Strategy Framework. This framework is a coordinated approach to ensuring that local youth are engaged and participate in the community and have ownership in decisions that affect them.
In 2016, the City of Airdrie commissioned research seeking to understand the prevalence, perceptions and context of domestic violence in the city and surrounding area. The Airdrie Domestic Violence Study produced four high level recommendations:
To begin the work of addressing these recommendations, the City worked with community partners to create a Community Domestic Violence Action Plan. Work on implementing the plan is continuing with the assistance of community partners.
In 2016, the City of Airdrie conducted a Housing Needs Assessment to understand the housing market in the city, as well as the affordable housing needs and options for residents. The City is currently in the process of examining various options to increase the range of affordable housing options in Airdrie.
On June 19, 2023, City Council passed the Affordable Housing Principled Action Plan that provides direction on how administration will pursue Council's stated priority to offer affordable housing options in Airdrie.
City Council has recognized the need for more affordable housing options within the City to help local residents and families.
The City Council discussed the key recommendations that can begin to immediately address affordable housing
needs in the Airdrie community in the upcoming Council meeting on June 5, 2023.
VIEW THE KEY RECOMMENDATIONS: MUNICIPAL TOOLS & AREAS OF OPPORTUNITY (PDF)
The Joint Use Agreement Committee is a partnership between The City of Airdrie, the Calgary Catholic School District, Rocky View Schools and the Conseil Scolaire FrancoSud.
The purpose of the committee is to facilitate a coordinated approach to the allocation, use, planning and development, and maintenance of municipal reserve, open space, and school sites to address the evolving needs of the residents of the City of Airdrie.
The committee is guided by the Airdrie Reserve Land Agreement.
The Municipal Emergency Management Plan has been designed to ensure a quick and effective response to deal with natural, man-made and technological hazards affecting the City of Airdrie.