Boilerplate

About the Board

The Subdivision and Development Appeal Board (SDAB) is a quasi-judicial board established in accordance with the Municipal Government Act and Town of Cochrane Procedural Bylaw 17/2024 and Subdivision and Development Appeal Board Bylaw 21/2024 . 

The SDAB hears appeals regarding decisions made by the development officer, the Development Authority or the Cochrane Planning Commission with respect to subdivisions, development permits or stop orders issued by the Town. The Board's decision is founded on fact-based evidence, applying legal rules as per legislation and planning documents such as the Municipal Development Plan and the Town of Cochrane Land Use Bylaw.   

The Board is independent from the Town of Cochrane Planning Department and is comprised of public-at-large members and a member of Council.  Once appointed, Board members and clerks must complete training approved by the Minister before they can hear an appeal. Approved refresher training is required every three years. 

The SDAB meets in the evening within 30 days of receipt of a valid appeal. Hearing dates will be advertised in the Cochrane Eagle with a minimum of five days notice.

Prior to submitting an appeal, please review our Preparing for your SDAB Appeal Hearing document.

Filing an Appeal

The SDAB Clerk  must receive the completed SDAB Notice to Appeal form and $200 fee in accordance with Sections 678 and 686 of the Municipal Government Act. The SDAB will determine the validity of any appeal that is incomplete, filed after the deadline or without the required fee.

SDAB Notice to Appeal form (PDF)

You can can submit your Notice of Appeal and the fee in the following ways:

Group Appeals 

A group of affected parties may file one appeal together. Each member of the group must complete the Notice of Appeal form. The Notice of Appeal forms must be submitted together and only one appeal fee is required for a group appeal. The appeal deadline is the same for individual appellants and group appellants. 

The group must select a spokesperson to represent them to the Board. Only the spokesperson speaks to the Board at the hearing unless the hearing’s Chair requests otherwise. The spokesperson is the group’s main contact for SDAB communications, excluding the Notice of Hearings and decision. Individual members may still submit written evidence. 

What Happens After My Appeal is Submitted?

The SDAB Clerk schedules an appeal hearing within 30 days of receiving the appeal form and fee.  You and any other party required to be notified under the Municipal Government Act or the Town of Cochrane’s Land Use Bylaw will receive a Notice of Hearing specifying the date and time of the hearing as well as evidence submission deadline. The SDAB Clerk will also provide information on the proceedings. The hearing is open to the public and documents filed as evidence in respect of an appeal will form part of a public record. 

Your written submission/ presentation to the SDAB will be a public record. Your name and address will not be severed and your submission/ presentation in its entirety will be shared with the development authority, the permit applicant, the Board, and any other affected party. It will be shared publicly at the SDAB hearing, retained permanently in the Town of Cochrane’s archives and may be posted to the website. 

Providing information on behalf of a third party

Under the FOIP Act, public bodies are accountable for the manner of collection of information. Section 34(1) of the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act states that a public body must collect personal information directly from the individual the information is about, unless another method of collection is authorized by that individual.  If you provide information on behalf of a third party without their written authority to provide it to the SDAB Clerk, collection will be denied and it will be returned to you. Avoid including personal telephone numbers and email addresses in your submission/presentation, especially those belonging to a third party.

Contact Information

Legislative Services, SDAB Clerk
Phone: 403-851-2987
Email: legislative@cochrane.ca
Physical address: 101 RancheHouse Road Cochrane, AB T4C 2K8

Planning Services
Phone: 403-851-2570
Email: planning@cochrane.ca
Physical address: 101 RancheHouse Road Cochrane, AB T4C 2K8