Industry in the Region

Land Use Planning for the Future

As of March 2010, land use planning in the Industrial Heartland is governed through the Capital Region Board through its Capital Region Growth Plan: Growing Forward. Under this plan, land uses, housing, transportation, and infrastructure are required to obtain the approval of the Capital Region Board before development can proceed.

Through the Capital Region Growth Plan, density targets to manage the development footprint have been agreed on. This means that urban and industrial development can only proceed in pre-determined approved zones. This now gives residents certainty of where future industry will reside.

To learn more about land use planning in the Industrial Heartland, please visit the Capital Region Board.

Alberta’s Industrial Heartland Land Trust Society

A key initiative supported by industry is Alberta’s Industrial Heartland Land Trust Society.

The society administers Alberta’s Industrial Heartland Voluntary Residents Property Purchase Program (VPPP). The VPPP was initiated by AIHA and several NCIA members in 2004 to find fair and practical ways to address long-standing resident concerns about the cumulative impact of industrial activity and development in the Heartland policy area.

The VPPP gives area residents an opportunity to sell their residential property at a fair price and receive reasonable compensation for expenses they would incur to move out of the policy area.

Applications are screened and prioritized.  Two appraisals are conducted by accredited appraisers — one selected by the resident and one selected by VPPP.  Purchased properties will be sold or leased to uses compatible with industrial designation and strategic properties may be held in the interests of future generations (i.e. environmental, agricultural buffers).

To learn more about the VPPP, please visit the Land Trust Society.