Westminster Area Redevelopment Plan

About the Westminster ARP

The Westminster Area Redevelopment Plan was originally adopted by council in 1985, and is in need of revision. In July 2010 the City of Lethbridge adopted a new city wide long range plan (the ICSP/MDP – Integrated Community Sustainability Plan/Municipal Development Plan) that updated the vision of the future of the City for 40 years. It is now appropriate, and consistent with the policies of the ICSP/MDP that the Westminster Area Redevelopment Plan (WARP) be reviewed and updated as well.

Area Redevelopment Plan

Area Redevelopment Plans (ARPs) are a tool to help manage the changing needs of the older neighbourhoods. ARP's contain policies adopted by City Council. These policies must be considered when decisions are made regarding changing the use of a property (i.e. from a single dwelling to an apartment or business); demolishing a structure and rebuilding something new and improving roadways and public spaces.

The new Area Redevelopment Plan for Westminster will include policies that consider public input, City Policies, and technical research. These three different types of information are not independent and must be considered together.

Process

The process guiding this project allows for public input, City Policies, and technical research to be explored at the same time. During Phase 3 of the project City staff created the WARP Advisory Committee to work closely with and to learn from. The WARP Advisory Committee is made up of members of the Westminster Neighbourhood including individuals who live, work, and volunteer in the neighborhood.

For the remainder of Phase 4, City staff will continue meeting with the WARP Advisory Committee to identify guiding principles which will inform the policies in the plan. This approach creates a space where the Advisory Committee is able to share their local knowledge and also take into consideration City Policies and technical research.

Project Timeline

*Public and stakeholder engagement opportunities are part of Phases 3, 4 & 5. Revisions are encouraged throughout the process, for example: the visioning phase is not the current phase the focus in on but can accommodate revisions when appropriate.

Into the Process