In a joint meeting March 24, Weyburn City Council and the Rural Municipality of Weyburn Council have approved the district plan.
Mayor Debra Button and Reeve Carmen Sterling signed the agreement and presented to Government Relations Minister Jim Reiter, who was in attendance at the joint meeting.
While other jurisdictions have struggled to create a common vision for encouraging future growth and development, the City and RM of Weyburn have shown clear dedication to this process through their work with the Weyburn Planning District Commission.
The two municipalities have been successfully working through the joint planning commission on issues of growth and development for a number of years and The Official District Plan will guide both municipalities in future planning.
Working cooperatively through a foundation of mutual respect has been the key for effective planning in the Weyburn Region through the recent period of rapid growth. The Weyburn Regional Planning Commission has been a valuable venture for both municipalities and has resulted in the successful management of a number of joint projects including the annexation of land to the east of the City for residential and commercial development in 2012.
In January, 2013, the partnership was formalized with the signing of the official planning commission agreement. The commission meets monthly to consider and review strategies for provision of infrastructure, utility services, economics and other broad issues that cross municipal boundaries.
The steady increase of land development requests in the region highlights the need for a coordinated plan for regional development. Numerous joint studies and planning have been done in an effort to reduce barriers in order to grow the region.
Government Relations will review and decide if the plan will be approved. It is expected to take approximately six weeks.
