Growth strategy for city and RM

The future growth of Weyburn and the surrounding area, and how it is being managed by the Weyburn District Planning Commission was detailed to the business community during a Weyburn Chamber of Commerce breakfast.
"I believe this committee is very positive for the City of Weyburn," said Debra Button, mayor of Weyburn. "What we have seen in the last two years is a lot of relationship building between the city and the RM."

"By building the areas where planning can happen, and what type of planning can happen in those areas has helped foster good business sense in the community," added Button. "It also sends a good message to the business community that we are ready for growth, that we have planned things, we have thought them through, and we know what our capacities are."

Carmen Sterling, reeve of the RM of Weyburn, said it was enlightening to work on the District Planning Commission. "A lot of times you stay in your own little corner of what you look after and it's a good experience to have the city at the table."

"We have to look at what the other has to offer and ways to complement each other," added Sterling. "We are understanding where we both are coming from, what we are looking for development, and what things we can do as an RM compared to the things that the city can do."

The Weyburn District Planning Commission is comprised of two elected officials each from the City of Weyburn and the Rural Municipality. The Chamber of Commerce provides a representative and they have an independently appointed chair.

The commission is supported by administration and professionals from both municipalities and a planning consultant. The role of the commission is to review and make recommendations to the respective councils on land use and future growth in the Weyburn region.

"We want to develop a plan that is a living document, it will be tangible," said Tim Cheesman, planning consultant.

He noted that Weyburn acts as a leader in the province in regard to the partnership of both the city and RM on the District Planning Commission. Another advantage is that the Weyburn Chamber of Commerce represents the business community at the table.

The recommendations by the District Planning Committee do still go through both city council and RM council, as they are still separate entities.
"We are not another layer of bureaucracy; each of the councils are responsible for their own up-to-date plans and decisions," said Cheesman.
One example of the two councils working together was in the agreement of a complementary subdivision at the east side of the city. That subdivision will provide residential, commercial and industrial that will benefit both the RM and the city.

"Our biggest success of late was our ability to put that complementary resolution together," said Sterling. "The RM felt that there was in the need in the city for those types of lots and multi-family dwellings, and we wanted to do everything we could to make that work for the city."

"The developers find it refreshing that we do actually have plans and that we are looking at the different regions to plan ahead for growth," said Tom Williams, planning consultant.

"The District Planning Commission is one step for businesses, they can come in and a plan is being developed and it is a living document," said Button. "It is not going to happen overnight but we are ahead of the curve in the province."
The Weyburn Planning Commission can access water and sewer line information from the Weyburn Utility Board to help plan for developments.
"We have sub-areas that are identified for potential development within the RM and within the city," said Cheesman.

According to Williams, the District Planning Commission is looking at potentially growing the City of Weyburn to 30,000. "That is an awful lot of growth and a huge infrastructure for the City of Weyburn and the rural municipality. We are well on our way to achieve that."

"Developers can take a look at the City of Weyburn's needs and assessment demands study that we did on housing, and our business plan for housing," said Button. "These are two very good documents that have helped businesses come in and develop in the City of Weyburn."

"The big thing is getting the right team of people to do the work for you and to keep an open mind," said Sterling. "We want to keep our relationship and the lines of communication going."

For more information on the Weyburn District Planning Commission, residents can contact Mayor Debra Button; Carmen Sterling, the reeve of the RM; or Jeff Richards, the general manager of the Chamber.