Municipal Development Plan Public Engagement

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The Town is working together with our citizens to create a new Municipal Development Plan for the Town of Ponoka.

The Town of Ponoka is working to adopt a new Municipal Development Plan (MDP). An MDP is an important policy document that outlines a vision and desired future for a municipality. It shows how a community expects to change over time and the shape it will take. An MDP includes a vision, goals, policies, and strategies for how a community will achieve its desired future through land use decisions, development choices, and by investing in infrastructure and programs.

The Province of Alberta requires MDPs through the Municipal Government Act (MGA). Section 632 of the MGA requires that all municipalities have an MDP. Ponoka’s MDP was last updated in 2013, and due to changes in the community, the Town has begun writing a new roadmap to guide the municipality into the future.

Engagement Update! Stage 1 – January to March 2023

Thank you to all residents who provided feedback during the open house and online survey. The project team wanted to understand what residents valued and the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats the Town faces. Engagement input was synthesized and brought together in the Stage 1 Community Feedback Summary. This summary comprehensively reviews Stage 1 public engagement and will shape future MDP steps.

To view copies of the posters from the first open house, click here.

Engagement Update! Stage 2 – June to July 2023

Thank you to all residents who provided feedback during the second open house and online survey. Based on Stage 1 findings, the project team created a vision and vision story for the MDP and several policy priorities. The project team also created a growth map showing where future development in Ponoka may occur.

The Town has created a list of 10 policy priorities influenced by public engagement. Residents provided input on these policies during Stage 2 engagement. These priorities illustrate what residents value and how they want the community to move forward. Each priority will have several key principles and policy statements recommending what the Town can do to achieve its vision. MDP priorities include:

- Collaboration- Agriculture and Food Production
- Community Identity- Complete and Livable Neighbourhoods
- Community Well-Being- Parks, Trails, and Recreation
- Economy- Utilities
- Environmental Responsibility- Transportation and Movement


Resident comments and questions from Stage 2 have been reviewed and put into the Stage 2 Community Feedback Summary. Based on these findings, the project team has begun writing the MDP.

To view copies of posters from the second open house, click here.

How to get Involved:

  • Post questions below in our Questions & Answers (Q&A) section;
  • Register for project updates by clicking on the ‘Subscribe’ link under ‘Stay Informed’ in the sidebar menu;
  • Contact Jill Hofer, Senior Planner at McElhanney Consulting, or Martin Kvapil, Manager of Development Services, and learn more about the MDP project; and
  • Stay tuned for more information about future engagement opportunities and to read the draft MDP.

The Town is working together with our citizens to create a new Municipal Development Plan for the Town of Ponoka.

The Town of Ponoka is working to adopt a new Municipal Development Plan (MDP). An MDP is an important policy document that outlines a vision and desired future for a municipality. It shows how a community expects to change over time and the shape it will take. An MDP includes a vision, goals, policies, and strategies for how a community will achieve its desired future through land use decisions, development choices, and by investing in infrastructure and programs.

The Province of Alberta requires MDPs through the Municipal Government Act (MGA). Section 632 of the MGA requires that all municipalities have an MDP. Ponoka’s MDP was last updated in 2013, and due to changes in the community, the Town has begun writing a new roadmap to guide the municipality into the future.

Engagement Update! Stage 1 – January to March 2023

Thank you to all residents who provided feedback during the open house and online survey. The project team wanted to understand what residents valued and the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats the Town faces. Engagement input was synthesized and brought together in the Stage 1 Community Feedback Summary. This summary comprehensively reviews Stage 1 public engagement and will shape future MDP steps.

To view copies of the posters from the first open house, click here.

Engagement Update! Stage 2 – June to July 2023

Thank you to all residents who provided feedback during the second open house and online survey. Based on Stage 1 findings, the project team created a vision and vision story for the MDP and several policy priorities. The project team also created a growth map showing where future development in Ponoka may occur.

The Town has created a list of 10 policy priorities influenced by public engagement. Residents provided input on these policies during Stage 2 engagement. These priorities illustrate what residents value and how they want the community to move forward. Each priority will have several key principles and policy statements recommending what the Town can do to achieve its vision. MDP priorities include:

- Collaboration- Agriculture and Food Production
- Community Identity- Complete and Livable Neighbourhoods
- Community Well-Being- Parks, Trails, and Recreation
- Economy- Utilities
- Environmental Responsibility- Transportation and Movement


Resident comments and questions from Stage 2 have been reviewed and put into the Stage 2 Community Feedback Summary. Based on these findings, the project team has begun writing the MDP.

To view copies of posters from the second open house, click here.

How to get Involved:

  • Post questions below in our Questions & Answers (Q&A) section;
  • Register for project updates by clicking on the ‘Subscribe’ link under ‘Stay Informed’ in the sidebar menu;
  • Contact Jill Hofer, Senior Planner at McElhanney Consulting, or Martin Kvapil, Manager of Development Services, and learn more about the MDP project; and
  • Stay tuned for more information about future engagement opportunities and to read the draft MDP.

Q&A: MDP Public Engagement

Do you have any questions about the MDP project? Please ask them here!

Please be advised that your questions and subsequent answers may be published publicly for general information.

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  • Share What is the goal of the 'Plan Ponoka' project? on Facebook Share What is the goal of the 'Plan Ponoka' project? on Twitter Share What is the goal of the 'Plan Ponoka' project? on Linkedin Email What is the goal of the 'Plan Ponoka' project? link

    What is the goal of the 'Plan Ponoka' project?

    over 1 year ago

    The goal of the project is to create a community-driven plan that can act as a roadmap for the Town into the future. It will reflect community values and represent the needs of the community. While the MDP document focuses on planning and land use, it will also provide strategies for government that will support community well-being, the local economy, recreation, and complete and livable neighbourhoods.

  • Share How is the MDP being developed? on Facebook Share How is the MDP being developed? on Twitter Share How is the MDP being developed? on Linkedin Email How is the MDP being developed? link

    How is the MDP being developed?

    over 1 year ago

    The Town is working closely with the community to learn what priorities residents have and what elements of the community they want to see improved. The Town has informed the public about the project through social media, posters in the community, in the Hometown Weekly News in the Ponoka News, and the Let’s Talk Ponoka website. The Town engaged with the public on the project through open houses, online and paper surveys, the Let’s Talk Ponoka website, and a workshop-style discussion with Ponoka Elementary students.

    Throughout the MDP process, the project team has been collecting input and giving residents the opportunity to inform and review project findings. The final MDP will be strongly influenced by community input and will promote and support the values, goals, and vision of Ponoka’s residents.

  • Share Why is Ponoka’s MDP being reviewed? on Facebook Share Why is Ponoka’s MDP being reviewed? on Twitter Share Why is Ponoka’s MDP being reviewed? on Linkedin Email Why is Ponoka’s MDP being reviewed? link

    Why is Ponoka’s MDP being reviewed?

    over 1 year ago

    Ponoka’s current MDP was adopted in 2013. Since then, the Town has experienced significant change. These include a new Land Use Bylaw (2021), Intermunicipal Development Plan (2021), Transportation Master Plan (2020), Economic Development Strategy (2020), Urban Framework Master Plan (2020), and Downtown Action Plan (2017). The Town’s population has also increased from 7,229 in 2016 to 7,331 in 2021 (Statistics Canada)!

    Due to this change, Town Administration initiated a comprehensive review and rewrite of the Ponoka MDP. Officially beginning in mid-2022, the project kick-off included extensive research, data collection, and mapping. As of writing, the project is more than halfway finished and is scheduled to conclude with Council adoption in January 2024.