Larry Spilak, Mayor of the MD of Foothills.

The Municipal District of Foothills and the Town of High River will send a joint letter of opposition to Municipal Affairs Minister Danielle Larivee against Growth Management Boards and Intermunicipal Agreements.

Foothills M.D. Mayor Larry Spilak says there was a similar board 25 years ago, that took away much of the M.D.'s responsibilities.

"Previously to the way the MGB reads now, their was a Calgary Regional Planning Board. That goes back about 25 years. During that period of time, the M.D. of Foothills did not have the authority to support re-designation and subdivision."

Spilak says two years ago the Calgary Metropolitan Plan went through a mediation process that was accepted by all jurisdictions in the area. He says this plan allowed municipalities to retain control of their own land.

"The Calgary Metropolitan Plan went through a mediation process two years ago, and the end result was something that our municipality could live with. And that was because it granted Foothills and other rural municipalities autonomy on their own land. Now, the provincial government has decided that would not be adequate."

He says the previous board took away municipalities' ability to support re-designation and subdivisions.

"They want to impose a growth board to manage this region. Now, when the previous growth board was in place, there was only one vote from each municipality that would approve or not approve applications made by the M.D."

Spilak says he hopes Minister Larivee will stick with the Calgary Metropolitan Plan.

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