JPA 4 1

Joint Planning Area 4 Context Study

Town of High River and Foothills County working together along with landowners and interested parties on a Context Study for Joint Planning Area 4, as required by Calgary Municipal Regional Board's Growth Plan.

Working together on a Context Study for an area that includes lands in the Town and the County.

In partnership with Foothills County, the Town of High River has produced a "What We Heard Report" highlighting the results of the Planning Area 4 Context Study Phase 1 Engagement. View a copy of the report below:

What We Heard: Planning Area 4 Context Study Phase 1 Engagement (link)

The Calgary Metropolitan Region Board (CMRB) was established by the Government of Alberta in 2018 and includes eight member municipalities.

Under provincial legislation, members of the CMRB were required to work together to prepare a Growth Plan and a Servicing Plan to ensure a strategy would be in place to prepare for growth in the region. The development of the growth plan included three phases of engagement where landowners and stakeholders across the region were asked to provide input. The completed regional Growth Plan went into effect August 15, 2022.The Growth Plan will set the stage for the next 25-30 years, and plans for an anticipated population increase of one million people within the Calgary Metropolitan Regional area. All development in the region must now comply with the Growth Plan.

The Town of High River and Foothills County are working together on a Context Study for a Joint Planning Area made up of lands in both the County and the Town.

This Joint Planning Area was identified in the regional Growth Plan and is known as JPA 4. A Context Study is a type of background report that looks at land use and servicing in an area that is of interest to both municipalities and where there may be opportunities for collaboration. Collaboration is important to the success of a strategic approach to anticipated future growth. It is also important to ensure property owners within the Joint Planning Area are aware of the plans and empowered with information to prepare for the future.

    JPA 4 Context Study is required to be completed by August 2025


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      The Context Study provides an opportunity to look at potential opportunities for our two municipalities to work together to coordinate planning for land use and servicing in the joint planning area. This may include:

      • Partnering on infrastructure projects and sharing facilities;
      • Integrating transportation routes;
      • Connecting open space and pathway systems;
      • Protecting environmentally significant areas that span our boundaries, and
      • Helping to avoid cross-boundary land use impacts.

      The Context Study will also identify potential economic opportunities in the JPA and will help to inform future amendments to other existing plans in the Town and the County.


      Commitment to Inform and Engage with Landowners, Interested Parties and the Public to Develop the Context Study

      An Engagement Plan for this area was approved on December 7, 2023 by the Foothills / High River Intermunicipal Committee. Beginning in early 2024, Foothills County and the Town of High River will work together to inform and engage with landowners, interested parties and the public to identify key issues in the area and to develop objectives for the Context Study.

        Things to watch for: Scroll down to the menus below for details.

        Spring 2024: Letter to landowners and potentially interested parties including a survey.

        Fall 2024: Public Open House: Once a date is chosen for the Open House it will be promoted and we look forward to seeing you there.

          Contact Us:

          You are invited to contact Foothills County or the Town of High River Planning & Development staff with your questions. We are committed to engaging with landowners, residents, businesses and other key interested parties when making decisions that have the potential to impact them.

          Foothills County contact information:

          Town of High River contact information:

          Please read through the information below for more information, details, and useful links.



          We're here to help, contact us!
          Town of High River Contact
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          309B Macleod Trail S.W., High River, Alberta

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          Monday to Friday 8:30am - 4:30pm (Closed on statutory holidays)

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          planning@highriver.ca

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          403-652-2110

          Foothills County Contact
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          309 Macleod Trail, High River, Alberta T1V 1M7, Box 5605

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          Julie.Mclean@FoothillsCountyAB.ca

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          403-603-6239

          Foothills County Website