Bighorn council eyes stormwater grant, land use bylaw vote looms
Recent meetings in the Municipal District of Bighorn No. 8 have centred on environmental planning, development permits, and a major land use bylaw rewrite that is headed for a final vote next week.
Council and its committees discussed a grant application for the Exshaw Stormwater Master Plan, a proposed public conduct policy, road maintenance with the Town of Canmore, and a campground expansion, though no minutes were published from those sessions, leaving decisions unconfirmed.
Council
On June 23, council received a verbal update on an application to the Federation of Canadian Municipalities for a Local Leadership for Climate Adaptation grant. If successful, the funding would support the creation of an Exshaw Stormwater Master Plan and its subsequent update. No formal vote was reported.
Governance and Priorities Committee
The same day, the Governance and Priorities Committee considered several items, including a draft Public Conduct Policy and a maintenance agreement with the Town of Canmore for Harvie Heights Road. Members also reviewed follow-ups from recent delegations by the Miistakis Institute, the Calgary Regional Airshed Zone Society, and the Bow Valley Destination Stewardship Council, as well as a request for support from the Prairie Adaptation Research Collaborative.
Municipal Planning Commission
The Municipal Planning Commission met on June 24 to review a series of development permits. The most significant proposal was DP 2026-026, which seeks to add 13 campsites, eight bunkies, an event space, and a retail store to Trapper’s Hill Campground. Commissioners also considered a 13-year renewal for Snowy Owl Sled Dog Tours’ commercial kennel (DP 2026-003), which includes front-yard setback variances.
Other items noted included an 18-hole disc golf course on roughly 30,000 square metres at 291 Diamond Drive in Exshaw (DP 2026-022), a temporary construction parking lot in Dead Man’s Flats (DP 2025-059), and a residential addition at 7 Fortress Mountain Way, Exshaw (DP 2026-027). The disc golf course and residential addition were among permits already issued and were listed for information.
Coming up
The next council meeting on July 13 is expected to be significant. Council will give second and third readings to Bylaw 10-26, the new Land Use Bylaw. The debate follows a public hearing where residents raised concerns about short-term rentals, home-based businesses, and retreat density. The agenda also includes a review of public feedback specific to Lac des Arcs and Dead Man’s Flats, a site-specific amendment for visitor accommodation at “Tacansina Ranch,” and discussion of proposed caps on home-based businesses and short-term rentals. A final vote could reshape land use rules across the district.
Generated from official meeting agendas and minutes — every underlying document is linked from the city page. Read the primary source before you rely on a detail.