Area Structure Plan Overview

On September 21st, 2004 Canmore Town Council approved the Resort Centre Area Structure Plan (bylaw 23-2004) and the Stewart Creek Area Structure Plan (bylaw 24-2004).

Collectively, the Resort Centre and Stewart Creek ASPs create a comprehensive planning framework to guide developers, stakeholders and approving authorities as they move through the next steps of rezoning, subdividing and developing approximately 900 acres of land within the Three Sisters Mountain Village area over the next 10 to 15 years.

The approved ASPs represent the culmination of a three-year planning process involving more than 15 open houses and workshops, ongoing discussion and public hearings.

The plans represent an effort to incorporate locally made solutions to key issues on a number of fronts in the form of detailed, comprehensive planning policies aimed at achieving a balance between the needs of the human and natural communities.

A number of revisions were made to the ASPs as they passed through the approvals process between May and September 2004. Many of these revisions were made to further improve the interface with wildlife corridors in or adjacent to the plan areas.

Three Sisters Mountain Village is proud of the plans that have been approved by the Town of Canmore, as they establish innovative, progressive policies that balance the needs of the community, economy and the environment.

Key principles and policies of the Resort Centre and Stewart Creek ASPs include:

  • Provision of a cross-valley and along-valley wildlife corridor system in the Resort Centre Area Structure Plan as a significant component of the Bow Valley wildlife habitat patch and corridor network – more than 40% of the Resort Centre plan area is wildlife corridor
  • Limitations to location, quantity and development footprint of golf cabin resort accommodation within the future golf course as part of the Resort Centre plan
  • Comprehensive wildlife corridor policies in both Area Structure Plans to address key wildlife-related factors
  • Requirements in both Area Structure Plans for further science-based review of key land use components at the subdivision or development stage; in some cases, this extends to a complete biophysical impact assessment with additional third-party independent review of the assessment's conclusions
  • Policies to review techniques in order to address ongoing wildlife corridor management within certain timeframes
  • Innovative and progressive policies to address perpetually affordable housing, as well as seasonal and year round employee housing

The two Area Structure Plans represent a locally made solution to many of the challenges we face when planning complex yet progressive and innovative development. Change within a community is inevitable: the key is how to manage change such that we can call it progress. Three Sisters Mountain Village recognizes the importance of balancing community, economic and environmental needs, and has taken an important step in achieving this balance in the Resort Centre and Stewart Creek Area Structure Plans.

The Area Structure Plans approved by Canmore Town Council represent the best efforts of hundreds of people who have contributed thousands of hours to ensure that the outcome is a balanced planning solution to guide future decision-making.

Please take the time to read through the PDF versions of the Area Structure Plans provided for downloading on this site. We have also included key science-based information and reviews that were critical to the evolution of these plans.