HomeMy WebLinkAboutLand Use Planning Info Sheet Tsuut’ina Nation
Lands and Environment
Research Department
48 Bullhead Road Tsuut’ina, AB. T2W 6H6
Phone: 403-281-0754
Fax. 403-251-1224
Land Use Planning
Information Sheet
July 14, 2022
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Land Use Planning
“Land-use planning (LUP) is the process of planning a scientific and orderly allocation of land,
community resources, facilities, and services with a view to maintaining and improving the physical
environment and the economic and social conditions of the community. This includes zoning of land
areas based on protected areas and potential uses, and laws to enforce the polices.
- NALMA Land Use Planning Toolkit, 2017
Land use planning is a comprehensive process that creates long-term goals through engagement with
the entire community, which will identify common community values on where and how things will be
developed and if those developments are sustainable. It will document existing uses, identify plans for
future uses and develop laws, policies and procedures to support the management the lands,
environment, and natural resources for sustainable future development.
An overarching goal for land management is the development of sustainability for Tsuut’ina Nation lands,
natural resources and the management and protection of the environment. It can be achieved by
balancing the social, cultural, environmental and economic elements that make up a community.
Social: how the community works together, caring for elders, quality of life, level of crime, availability of
recreational facility and programming, and an overall respect for the land, the community, and the
environment.
Culture: tangible and intangible, embodies many socio-cultural, economic and environmental
dimensions of a community; reflects and enables community relationships, accomplishments, challenges
and hopes.
Environmental: Bio-physical Health, protection of sacred and traditional areas, provision of potable
water, collection and treatment of sanitary sewer, storm water management and the mapping of flood
plains, the management of solid waste, the stewardship of the land, the accountability of the decision
makers, and the conservation and protection of natural resources.
Economic: cost of living and wages, the variety of employment opportunities, revenues generated by
natural resources, leases, permits, other sources and capital costs required to keep the community
viable.
Environment Management Plan
An Environment Management Plan (EMP) is a written document that outlines a systematic approach to
identifying environmental issues of concern. Finding ways to manage environmental responsibilities; and
to resolve and lessen the impact of current environmental issues. It is designed to allow a First Nation to
pursue environmental management in a staged approach and is used to increase environmental
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awareness of Chief and Council, FN Administration and then lay the foundation for more detailed future
environmental programs.
A Bio-physical survey is important to consider in EM in the LUP process. It can be used to provide
information on environmental features and attributes to consider in the planning process. It is a baseline
of the current state of the physical environmental information necessary to produce a LUP (topography,
vegetation communities, water resources and hydrology).
Land Use Plan Process
There are 4 phases of a LUP and during each phase the involvement of the community is crucial for
receiving community support of the plan.
Phase 1: Pre-planning
• Decision to begin land use planning
• Engage and Survey the Community - Initial engagement where a vision, is established that is
unique to the values and guiding principles of the community, which will identify the types of
policies that will need to be developed for your land, environment and natural resources;
• A planning team will be formed with internal staff including the Lands Portfolio, Economic
Development Office, Legislative Procedures Technical Staff and General Legal Council
• Timeline for the development and implementation of the LUP will be created
• A preliminary budget will be developed for each phase and funding will be pursued
• Research and development of which lands will be included in the LUP; the location of the best
use of the land; stakeholders; type of usage and quality of the land; and the social, cultural,
environmental and economic need of the community
• Survey and mapping of the lands that will be in the LUP
Phase 2: Development
• Data Analysis of technical assessments, population trends, environmental factors, economic
opportunities, cultural issues and any underlying problems. All the data that was compiled will
provide a vision of the goals and values of the community and the baseline of current state of the
land.
• A multi-year budget will be developed to better fit the various stages of the plan and funding will
be obtained
• Community engagement will occur according to the communication strategy built specifically for
this plan
• Prioritizing of projects, the community would like to undertake
• Draft the LUP
• Formal adoption of the plan. C&C will review LUP and approve it by BCR, if not approved will go
back to community for further input until C&C is satisfied
• Celebration of completion of LUP for the community
Phase 3: Implementation
• Create an Action Plan using the S.M.A.R.T approach. (Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic,
and Timeline)
• Develop Procedures on:
o How the land will be used and occupied
o How interest will be obtained
o How laws will be developed
o Create dispute resolution process
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o How you will amend the LUP
• Compliance and Monitoring of Activities
• How to deal with rent and defaults
• Community involvement and information
• Implement the plan by working team and ensure they have the resources required to fulfil the
implementation phase
• Develop laws for and usage through the TTN legislative process
Phase 4: Monitoring and Evaluation
- Annual Reviews to ensure activities are consistent with the plan
- Monitoring and compliance of projects and activities to ensure they align with the plan’s rules and
requirements
- Analyze Progress through short-term and long-term monitoring of activities which will avoid
adverse effects that could potentially harm the land or activities that are inconsistent with the plan.
- Evaluate Results and Revise/Update the LUP by continuing to involve and inform the community.
Community Involvement in LUP
Phase 1: Pre-planning
Community Engagement – Information sessions by meetings, focus groups and information surveys to
gather knowledge from specific groups within the community.
Phase 2: Development
The research conducted and the goals drafted from the working team will be presented to the community
for the opportunity to provide their input, enhance the vision for the LUP and inform members.
Phase 3: Implementation
Information sessions and open houses to keep the community updated. Community support for the LUP
will occur when they are informed of how the plan is progressing. Through our legislative procedures
process and due to law development related to lands being a common interest and how it will benefit the
whole community, their input is needed.
Phase 4: Monitoring and Evaluation
Rules and requirements of the LUP will need to be communicated and understood by the community
members to ensure compliance. Annual reports of the activities and projects will demonstrate successes
within the plan and what needs more planning.
Phase One Phase Two Phase Three Phase Four
Pre-Planning
Development
Implementation
Monitoring and Evaluation
May 2021
to September 2022
October 2022 to
June 2023
July 2023 to
December 2023
January 2024 and beyond