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> Issues > Urban Growth and
Development > Smart Bylaws Guide > Case
Studies > Okotoks
Smart Bylaws Guide – Case Studies – Okotoks
In 1998, the Town of Okotoks, Alberta (population 12,000), located
40 km south of Calgary, adopted a resolution to pursue a
"Sustainable Okotoks" approach to development after
experiencing growth rates exceeding five percent since 1985. The
approach includes living within the carrying capacity of the nearby
Sheep River's ability to supply water to the Town, which effectively
caps growth at 30,000 residents, and substantially modifying urban
design to create more mixed-use and higher density developments to
decrease reliance on the automobile. The vision outlined in the
Municipal Development Plan seeks to create new development markets
by changing traditional low-density development, and prohibit
expansion of the Town's borders to maintain a small town
atmosphere.
The Town approached the Faculty of Environmental Design at the
University of Calgary to provide design research support for this
work.
Studies have shown that residents continue to support the vision
of a compact, complete community with a focus on resource
conservation (see the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation report
below).
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