The growth and development of Cochrane is shaped by a range of plans, policies, and guidelines that work together at various levels to coordinate development and reflect local objectives. These plans operate within a framework established by the Municipal Government Act (MGA), which provides the primary legal authority for municipal planning in Alberta.
Planning documents are classified as either statutory or non-statutory:
- Statutory plans are formal documents that municipalities are required to adopt under the Municipal Government Act to support long-term planning and development. These include the Municipal Development Plan (which applies town-wide), Intermunicipal Development Plans (developed with neighbouring municipalities), Area Structure Plans (for new growth areas), and Area Redevelopment Plans (for existing developed areas). These plans require public notification or engagement and must be approved by Council through a bylaw.
- Non-Statutory documents offer additional planning guidance and may include plans, policies, or design guidelines. While not required under legislation, they are used to support decision-making in alignment with statutory plans and the Land Use Bylaw. These documents may be adopted by Council resolution or implemented by Town Administration.
Regional Plans
- South Saskatchewan Regional Plan 2014-2024
Under the authority of the Alberta Land Stewardship Act, the South Saskatchewan Regional Plan establishes high-level direction for land and resource management across multiple municipalities in the region. Municipal planning documents must be consistent with this regional plan.
Intermunicipal Plans
- Town of Cochrane/M.D. of Rocky View Intermunicipal Development Plan
The Town of Cochrane/M.D. of Rocky View Intermunicipal Development Plan is a collaborative statutory plan that guides land use, transportation, and servicing in the shared boundary area.
Town-Wide Documents (Statutory)
- Envision Cochrane 2050 - Municipal Development Plan
Envision Cochrane 2050 is Cochrane’s municipal development plan. This Plan provides a long-range vision that will guide future development on all private and public lands within Cochrane’s boundaries. As a decision-making tool, a municipal development plan guides Council, administration, developers and members of the public in all planning decisions that impact land use, transportation systems, services and the environment. - Land Use Bylaw
Under the Municipal Government Act, every municipality in Alberta is required to have a Land Use Bylaw. The Land Use Bylaw regulates land use and development by dividing the municipality into Land Use Districts and setting standards for building heights, setbacks, lot sizes, parking requirements, and other matters. In 2022, the Western Heritage Design Framework was incorporated into the Land Use Bylaw to establish design standards for non-residential and mixed-use development in Cochrane’s Character Areas.
Town-Wide Documents (Non-Statutory)
- Accessory Suite Guidelines
- Addressing Guidelines
- Cochrane Corridors Plan
- Cochrane Growth Study
- Cochrane Open Space Master Plan
- Cochrane Strategic Plan 2022-2025
- Cochrane Sustainability Plan
- Connecting Cochrane (Transportation Master Plan)
- Green Building Strategy for Commercia, Industrial, and Institutional Uses
- Heritage Conservation Incentives Program and Public Heritage Awareness Program
- Heritage Management Plan
- Heritage Register
- Parks, Recreation and Culture Master Plan
- Integrated Neighbourhood Design Guidelines
- Renewable Energy Framework
- Telecommunications Antenna Structure Siting Protocols
- Tri-Site Strategy
Community-Specific Documents
- Area Structure Plans are drafted when a new parcel of land is identified for development in Cochrane. These plans establish a broad framework for future development of a community and consist of a land use concept and a series of policy statements and implementation actions which work together to ensure that the plan is achieved. Area Structure Plans guide and direct land use, subdivision, and development decisions that determine the form a community will take.
- Area Redevelopment Plans guide the development or re-development of existing, developed areas in Cochrane.
- Neighbourhood Plans provide detailed guidance for how a specific area within an approved Area Structure Plan will develop by refining land uses, transportation networks, open spaces, and servicing strategies at a finer scale. Neighbourhood Plans inform subdivision and development permit applications.
* Denotes statutory