Planning Documents

Image indicating the hierarchy of plans used by the Town of Cochrane.

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-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)
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

NeighbourhoodPlanning Documents
Bow MeadowsN/A
Bow Ridge•   Bow Ridge Update for Realtors
Cochrane HeightsN/A
Crawford RanchN/A
Downtown•   Downtown Area Redevelopment Plan*
•   Integrated Downtown Action Plan
•   Griffin Road Area Redevelopment Plan*
•   The Quarry Planning & Design Framework
•   2018 Downtown Parking Study
East End•   Lower East Neighbourhood Plan*
•   Integrated Downtown Action Plan
Fireside•   West Ridge Area Structure Plan*
•   Fireside Stage 1 Neighbourhood Plan
•   Fireside Stage 2 Neighbourhood Plan
Glenbow•   Integrated Downtown Action Plan
Gleneagles•   Gleneagles Area Structure Plan*
Greystone•   Greystone Area Structure Plan*
•   Greystone Development Area “C” Neighbourhood Plan
•   Griffin Road Area Redevelopment Plan*
•   Industrial Area Structure Plan*
•   Integrated Downtown Action Plan
Heartland•   Heartland Stage 1 Area Structure Plan*
•   Heartland Stage 2 Area Structure Plan*
Heritage Hills•   Heritage Hills Area Structure Plan*
•   Heritage Hill of Cochrane Concept Plan
•   Heritage Hills Stage 2 Neighbourhood Plan
Industrial•   Industrial Area Structure Plan*
•   Griffin Road Area Redevelopment Plan*
•   Integrated Downtown Action Plan
Jumping Pound RidgeN/A
Precedence•   South Ridge Area Structure Plan*
•   Riversong Design Brief
•   Riversong Stage 3 Neighbourhood Plan
River Heights•   River Heights Area Structure Plan*
•   DRAFT River Heights Area Structure Plan Amendment
•   DRAFT River Ridge Neighborhood Plan
Riversong•   South Ridge Area Structure Plan*
•   Riversong Design Brief
•   Riversong Stage 1 Neighbourhood Plan
Riviera•   South Ridge Area Structure Plan*
•   Riversong Design Brief
•   Riversong Stage 2 Neighbourhood Plan
Riverview•   Industrial Area Structure Plan*
•   Integrated Downtown Action Plan
Rivercrest•   River Heights Area Structure Plan*
•   DRAFT River Heights Area Structure Plan Amendment
•   Rivercrest Neighbourhood Plan
Rolling Range Estates•   Rolling Trails Area Redevelopment Plan*
•   DRAFT Rolling Trails Neighbourhood Plan
Rolling Trails•   DRAFT Rolling Trails Neighbourhood Plan
South Ridge•   DRAFT River Heights Area Structure Plan Amendment
Southbow Landing•   River Heights Area Structure Plan*
•   DRAFT River Heights Area Structure Plan Amendment
•   Southbow Landing Neighbourhood Plan
•   DRAFT Southbow Landing Neighbourhood Plan Amendment
Sunset Ridge•   Sunset Ridge Stage 1 Area Structure Plan*
•   Sunset Ridge Stage 2 Area Structure Plan*
•   Sunset Ridge Stage 2 Neighbourhood Plan
•   Sunset Ridge Stage 3 Neighbourhood Plan
Sunterra HeightsN/A
The QuarryN/A
The Summit of River Heights•   River Heights Area Structure Plan*
•   DRAFT River Heights Area Structure Plan Amendment
•   Summit of River Heights Neighbourhood Plan
The Willows•   River Heights Area Structure Plan*
•   DRAFT River Heights Area Structure Plan Amendment
•   The Willows of River Heights Neighbourhood Plan
West PointeN/A
West TerraceN/A
West ValleyN/A