Anmore South

Anmore South (the former Imperial Oil Company (IOCO) lands) encompasses 150 acres in the southern part of Anmore. To keep its options open, a previous Council established a Special Study Area overlay for this area in Anmore’s Official Community Plan back in 2005, and then requested the Special Study Area as part of the 2011 update to the Regional Growth Strategy with the understanding that a future decision would be made to confirm an official designation.

A change to the regional land use designation involves a comprehensive review process, including consultation with the community as a priority. As well, any future development application that involves changes to zoning and/or Official Community Plan would also require consultation with Anmore residents and additional analysis of how the development could affect the community.

Project Update

Council is not currently moving ahead to consider any changes to the designation or amendments to the Zoning Bylaw for Anmore South lands without a development proposal and a comprehensive community engagement process to hear from Anmore residents. This is in response to input from the community about the importance of having a better understanding of what the development would look like before engaging them in further discussion about options for the area, as well as requesting that the Village hear from the majority of its residents before making any decisions about the future of this area.

The Village is now waiting to see what comes forward in a development proposal from icona – the property owners – with specific details about what they are proposing for the area.

Please note: icona has advised the Village that it will be submitting a development proposal; however, nothing has been received by the Village to date. We are not involved in their process and do not have any details at this time. 

Anmore South Infrastructure Financial Analysis

In response to community input in the first phase of community engagement on the future of the Anmore South lands, Council directed staff to initiate further assessment of the financial and servicing impacts of three different development models. The Anmore South Infrastructure Financial Analysis was received by Council on November 23, 2021.

A virtual open house being was held via zoom on December 6, 2021 to provide an opportunity for residents to connect directly with the experts at ISL Engineering and GP Rollo & Associates to ask questions about their analysis.

Open House Q&As: For a summary of the questions and answers raised as part of the virtual Open House for the Anmore South Infrastructure Financial Analysis report, please see the Q&A Summary. Our thanks go to the residents who submitted questions and to ISL Engineering and GP Rollo and Associates for their expertise and participation, both at the open house and assisting with these Q&As.

For an overview of the report, see the Anmore South Infrastructure and Financial Report Highlights. 

The full report provides an important resource for assessing how different types of development would affect the Village from the perspective of infrastructure management and financial sustainability, regulations and related approval requirements, where developable areas could be located and what forest areas would be most appropriate for dedicated land that is provided to the Village.

The Anmore South Infrastructure Financial Analysis report submitted by ISL Engineering provides assessments for two development scenarios: both under a Rural designation. There will also be an assessment of the infrastructure and financial impacts for a third scenario under an Urban designation; however, with the recent letter of intent from the landowner, icona, regarding a proposal coming forward at the end of November, ISL has recommended waiting until the specific application is submitted to complete the analysis as this will allow for an assessment based on actual data rather than theoretical. The Anmore South Infrastructure Financial Analysis report is focused on the infrastructure requirements to provide servicing in the two development models along with the financial implications for those costs based on current Village bylaws, policies and regulations. The studies also include considerations for potential forest areas for dedicated land and Community Amenity Contributions (CAC), which are payments to the Village based on the increased value of the land due to rezoning. It is important to emphasize that the scenarios are models only and do not in any way reflect an actual development proposal.

For more details, please see the full report: Anmore South Infrastructure Financial Analysis

Project Timeline

As part of the first phase of community engagement, residents who participated made it clear they wanted Council to slow down and provide more time for assessing options and consulting with residents. Council listened to the community and deferred its decision related to the Special Study Area designation for Anmore South.

As a result, there will be more time for the review process and consideration of the future for the Anmore South lands. The following are some of the key milestones completed to date.

• Complete Phase 1 Community Engagement (March – April 2021)
• Council defers decision on Anmore South designation (April 2021)
• Complete Anmore South Development Analysis (June – September)
• Report to Council on Development Analysis outcomes (November 2021)