In Alberta, it is required by the Province that all municipalities adopt a Municipal Development Plan to guide strategic growth.
The role of a Municipal Development Plan in Lethbridge is to set a vision and policy guidance for the City to improve residents' quality of life, to meet the community's changing needs, to foster a prosperous local economy, and to grow in a responsible manner for years to come.
Municipal Development Plan, Bylaw 6265
The Municipal Development Plan (MDP) was approved by Council on June 29, 2021.
The Municipal Development Plan is available here: 
Municipal Development Plan
The Municipal Development Plan Highlights Document is available here:
Municipal Development Plan Highlights
Municipal Development Plan
Drafting Process
The MDP was drafted over the course of two years, and it builds on multiple other studies, strategies and plans completed by administration over the past decade.
The MDP project began in January 2019 with a Council workshop hosted to discuss the scope and expectations in reviewing the ICSP/MDP. Council recognised that the ICSP/MDP included many elements still relevant today and directed administration to review and update the existing plan rather than writing an entirely new one, while focusing on certain areas for improvement such as the economy and Indigenous relationships. In addition to these two topics, the project team identified future growth and housing as topics that could better reflect the community needs and perspectives.
Public engagement was conducted in alignment with Council's direction to only update where necessary. The specific topic areas that were brought to stakeholders and the public for their feedback included: local economy, Indigenous relationships, future growth, and housing.
In addition to the specific topics explored with stakeholders and the public, general online engagement was completed on all the topics that make up the MDP: places, community well-being, arts culture and heritage, environment, utilities and servicing, relationships, housing, and local economy.
The engagement report is available here: What We Heard Report.
Council Engagement Sessions
In addition to the Engagement carried our by administration, Council carried out engagement sessions targeting stakeholder groups; these were hosted during the October and November Community Issues Committee meetings. Visit the Council meetings below to listen to the discussion.
Policy Topics: Local Economy & Arts Culture, and Heritage - October 26, 2020
Policy Topics: Housing, Places & Environment - November 9, 2020
Policy Topic: Relationship - December 7, 2020
Council Updates
Over the course of the project, Council has been updated periodically on the project timeline and milestones, document structure and components, policy topics, and public engagement. Visit the Council meetings below to listen to the discussion.
Project Plan and Scope Confirmation - May 13, 2019
Community Engagement Strategy - June 24, 2019
Progress Update - December 2, 2019
Progress Update -June 22, 2020
Engagement Summary - September 21, 2020
Council Review Process and Approval
The Municipal Development Plan (MDP), Bylaw 6265, received First Reading on February 9, 2021 and a Public Hearing was held on March 29 to April 1, 2021. On May 18, the MDP received Second Reading and various amendments were approved by City Council based on the feedback received during the March 29 to April 1 Public Hearing.
A second Public Hearing was held to provide the opportunity for stakeholders and members of the public to review the updated draft MDP which includes the amendments approved by Council on May 18, 2021.
The second Public Hearing was held on Tuesday June 29, 2021 and the Municipal Development Plan was approved following the Public Hearing.
Key Contacts:
Tyson Boylan
Senior Community Planner
Phone: 403-320-3928
E-mail: tyson.boylan@lethbridge.ca
Ross Kilgour
Senior Community Planner
Phone: 403-320-4237
E-mail: ross.kilgour@lethbridge.ca
