Frequently Asked Questions and Information

The County’s Jackfish Lake Area Structure Plan and West Point Estates (North) Outline Plan contain differing policies on the maximum allowable width of a pathway through County Lands for semi-waterfront property owners. These policy differences create confusion and difficulty for residents, developers, and County staff when interpreting what is or is not allowed. 

These documents are being amended to align the County’s approach to tree clearing and lake access along Jackfish Lake. In addition, the Use of County Lands Bylaw is being amended to make the proposed changes consistent for all other County water bodies.

No. These proposed amendments only apply to semi-waterfront properties where crossing County Lands is required to access the water body. Properties directly on the waterfront are still subject to other federal, provincial, and municipal policies and regulations.

Parkland County is moving forward with an approach to standardize how tree clearing and lake access occurs. Although Jackfish Lake has encountered heightened issues of tree clearing and lake access, there are many water bodies across the county that have or have the potential for semi-waterfront development. Making a County-wide change ensures consistent and efficient decision making process for County staff and development applicants, and ensures that environmental health is a priority for all water bodies in the County.

A semi-waterfront property is a private property that is separated from a Water Body by County Lands.

County Land is any land parcel that the property of Parkland County. These lands include areas dedicated for public recreation, environmental conservation, road rights-of-way, and public utilities among others.

Discover Parkland is a free mapping tool that you can use to find your property, and the designations of other properties beside you. County Land will be labelled or will be shown as being owned by the County.

County Land parcels may also have physical County signage identifying the property boundary.

A water body includes lakes, rivers, wetlands, and other natural features where water flows. It does not include man-made features like irrigation canals or dugouts. See the Alberta Water Act for the precise definition.

Environmental Reserve is a form of County Land that municipalities can use to protect environmentally sensitive areas and provide public access to water bodies. Environmental Reserve is created when land is subdivided for development. Section 664 of Alberta’s Municipal Government Act outlines how and when Environmental Reserve can be taken.

A municipal Bylaw is a law approved by Parkland County Council in accordance with the Alberta’s Municipal Government Act. Common bylaws include Community Standards, Council Code of Conduct, Municipal Development Plan, Land Use, and Tax Rate Bylaws.

In order to be approved, a new or amended Bylaw is required to be presented to Council for three Readings and provide opportunity for public input through a formal Public Hearing. For more information on the Public Hearing and Bylaw Approval process, check out this helpful video!

The Use of County Lands Bylaw (2024-04 and 2023-13) and the Jackfish Lake Area Structure Plan (54-01) are existing Bylaws. This project proposes to amend the Bylaws following the amendment process. While the project aims to receive a decision from Council in Spring 2025, Council Reading and Public Hearing dates will be advertised once they have been confirmed.

The West Point Estates (North) Outline Plan is not a Bylaw, and only requires a Council Resolution to be amended. This Resolution can be brought forward to Council at the same time as the Bylaw Council Readings.

The Project has six work stages:

1. Jurisdictional Scan: Conducted a scan of what other rural municipalities in the Edmonton Region, Alberta, and Canada do to address tree clearing and lake access for semi-waterfront parcels.
2. Information Gathering: Carried out interviews with the County departments responsible for implementing policy for tree clearing and lake access. These interviews included land management, land use planning, and environmental subject matter experts.
3. Public Engagement Round 1: Initial public engagement for this project occurred in partnership with the County’s Municipal Development Plan and Land Use Bylaw ReDesign Projects. A County Roadshow in June, 2024 held public engagement sessions across the County, and asked the public to provide feedback on policy and regulation topics. One of these topics was water body health and access. The majority of participants across all electoral divisions of the County agreed with the policy ideas of maintaining and improving the health of waterways in the County, and for regulating uses near waterbodies to ensure that negative impacts are limited. A What We Heard Report for the County Roadshow is available here. The Municipal Development Plan Project Team also presented at the Jackfish Lake Management Association’s 2024 Annual General Meeting to gather the association’s feedback on the MDP Project’s proposed approach to water body health.
4. Amendment Drafting: The Project Team drafted proposed draft amendments based on the information and feedback obtained during Work Stage 1-3. The previous Work Stages made it clear that the best approach going forward would be to apply policy regarding tree clearing and water body access for semi-waterfront parcels County-wide rather than just for the Jackfish Lake area. An amendment to the County’s Use of County Lands Bylaw is being proposed to achieve a County-wide policy. Making a County-wide amendment ensures consistency for County staff and development applicants, and ensures that environmental health is a priority for all waterbodies in the County.
5. Public Engagement Round 2: The current stage of public engagement. The purpose of this engagement is to share the proposed draft amendments with the general public and project interest holders.
6. Public Hearing and Approvals: The Use of County Lands Bylaw and the Jackfish Lake Area Structure Plan are Bylaws that require three Readings at County Council and a Public Hearing to be amended. Council Reading and Public Hearing dates will be advertised once they have been confirmed closer to. A tentative timeline for decision from Council on the proposed draft amendments is Spring 2025. For more information on the Public Hearing and Approvals, check out the County’s helpful video! The West Point Estates (North) Outline Plan is not a Bylaw, and only requires a Council Resolution to be amended. This Resolution can be brought forward to Council at the same time as the Bylaw Council Readings.

Use of County Lands Bylaw – adding County-wide amendments that address tree clearing and lake access for semi-waterfront properties

Jackfish Lake Area Structure Plan – removing specific references to pathway width for lake access through environmental reserve. Adding reference to adherence to Parkland County requirements.

West Point Estates (North) Outline Plan – removing specific references to pathway width for lake access through environmental reserve. Adding reference to adherence to Parkland County requirements. 

To view the full proposed draft changes to each of the above, please participate in public engagement events happening soon! Further details can be found under the Events tab of this webpage.