FUTURE New regional growth plan touted by city

At times the possibility of getting agreement between the City of Saskatoon and four nearby municipalities seemed more like a dream than reality, Coun. Zach Jeffries says.

Jeffries praised current and past members of Saskatoon city council and city hall administration for the work that led to the establishment of a regional growth plan.

Saskatoon council unanimously endorsed the plan at Monday’s meeting.

Councils in the City of Martensville, the Rural Municipality of Corman Park and the Town of Osler have already given the plan their blessing, council heard.

The City of Warman is expected to vote on the plan this week.

“That’s exceptionally exciting,” Jeffries said of agreement between the partners.

“I think this is a model that other people can and should be following.”

The plan sets out a strategy for growth to guide the region as it grows to 700,000 people and then to one million.

The growth strategy focuses on land use, development, infrastructure and governance.

The 81-page report includes maps that show where and in what order development is expected to happen. Efforts to establish a plan began in 2014.

A legal review of the plan will now take place and the province must still grant its approval, which is expected to happen next year.

“This is a big day for the city of Saskatoon,” Coun. Randy Donauer said.

“This is a growth plan. It’s not a red tape plan. It’s not a stagnation plan. It’s not a no-growth plan.”

Ernie Walker, an archeology professor at the University of Saskatchewan, spoke in favour of the regional plan on behalf of Wanuskewin Heritage Park.

Wanuskewin, which has applied to become a UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization), is planning a $40-million redevelopment.

The plan would include acquiring more land so a herd of bison can be accommodated and renovating the interpretive centre.

Walker said the fundraising campaign is close to reaching its $40-million goal. “This project is like no other in the country,” Walker told council.

“And I think there’s a lot of people saying there’s something very unique going on in Saskatoon.”

Walker said the zoning protection covered by the regional plan is “critical” to Wanuskewin.

Donauer pointed out that people think of Wanuskewin as a park just northeast of Saskatoon in the RM of Corman Park.

But he added one day Wanuskewin will likely be located inside a larger urban area as outlined in the growth plan.