Project Summary
The Town of Fort Smith is in the final stages of the 2025 Community Plan Development, a project to replace the Community Plan Bylaw 935 approved by Council in 2014.
The Community Plan will function as a comprehensive, long-range planning document, guiding the development and use of land in the Town of Fort Smith for the next 20 years.
What's New in this Plan?
-
Climate Vulnerabilities
The environment around the Town of Fort Smith is changing. This plan includes policies that guide how new developments will consider the impacts of climate change and specific regional challenges. This includes adhering to the Wildfire Protection Plan and preserving environmentally sensitive areas.
-
Indigenous Connections
The new community plan sets a policy direction that prioritizes collaboration with local Nations through the Thebacha Leadership Council. As part of ongoing reconciliation efforts, the Town of Fort Smith will work closely with Salt River First Nation and the Fort Smith Métis Council while supporting the development of Municipal Service Agreements.
-
Flexible Housing Options
In 2023 the Town of Fort Smith conducted a Housing Needs Assessment revealing a need for over 200 housing units to accommodate long-term growth. This Community Plan lays the foundation for how we can sustainably achieve that goal in the next 20 years.
-
Supporting Transportation Networks
The 2025 Community Plan will take information from the 2022 Integrated Transportation Master Plan to create policies that ensure roadways provide safe and efficient transportation flow while encouraging alternative modes of transport like walking paths, trails & bike infrastructure.
-
Industry Preparedness
The 2025 Community Plan supports new avenues for economic growth, like encouraging use of land for agricultural purposes, or by providing flexibility for commercial and industrial areas to support a variety of new land use opportunities.
What can you do?
Read the current draft linked at the top of the page to understand the vision being proposed for the next 20-years of development in the Town of Fort Smith.
Attend the Public Hearing on Monday, March 10th at 6:00PM the Community & Recreation Centre to provide any comments or feedback on the plan, or ask questions.
Our consultant will be there to receive your comments and answer questions.