County of Grande Prairie Clairmont Heights Area Structure Plan

The County of Grande Prairie will develop an area structure plan (ASP) for the Clairmont Heights area. The goal is to create a comprehensively planned mixed-use community with a focus on residential development, supplemented by open space, recreation and tourism-related features, and commercial and light industrial development. The ASP will incorporate best practices for economic, environmental and social sustainability and offer clear guidance for future development decisions. After the project initiation and a review of the current situation (including analysis and issue identification), the county will identify sustainability targets and measures through consultations with stakeholders and the general public. Focus groups are planned with landowners, residents and other stakeholders to identify issues and opportunities and build support for the ASP. Two facilitated roundtable workshops will allow the public to evaluate alternative development concepts. Once the draft ASP is prepared, a public open house will allow for discussion and feedback. The ASP will aim to create a liveable community through mixed-mode transportation options including walking, cycling, automobiles and public transportation. The mixed-use development will include a town centre and provide a diverse range of public and private spaces including parks, trail systems, commercial development and higher-density residential development. The ASP will include plans to develop a system of greenways for recreational use and as ecological corridors to protect and link environmentally sensitive areas, water bodies, wetlands, tree stands and stormwater management facilities. To maintain the environmental health of Clairmont Lake, the plan will include measures for water conservation and wastewater management. It will also consider waste management and energy conservation measures (for example by allowing for source-separation of construction waste, encouraging development to LEED standards and minimizing the use of street lights).

(Project description from original funding application)