More than four years in the making, PLUS Network member city Calgary's new  integrated municipal development and mobility plan outlining a bold sustainability-based vision for the next 60-70 years went to public hearing on June 23rd, with more than 150 Calgarians speaking for and against it.

Nola-Kate Seymoar, ICSC CEO, spoke in favour of the plan on behalf of the PLUS Network. Following the hearing, Council gave the plan first reading, the formal first step in the legislative process.

Calgary citizens began the process of shaping their city's future in January 2005 with an 18-month public engagement to create a 100-year vision. One of the largest community visioning processes known, Imagine Calgary brought in the voices of over 18,000 residents.

The City-led, community-owned initiative led to development of a Municipal Development Plan and a Transportation Plan, which have been integrated under the name Plan It Calgary.

Described as a blueprint for sustainable growth over the next 60-70 years, the plan addresses regional planning issues such as growth management, and attempts to balance the need to protect green spaces against the need for infrastructure including transit and water to service growth from today's populationof 1.2 million to over 2.8 million.

A preparatory two-day Summit was held in November 2008 with over 250 participants including citizens and representatives of stakeholder groups.

This month's public hearing is expected to last many days as citizens and stakeholders speak to the bold directions embodied in the plan. The video record of the hearings and summaries are available online at the City website.

The City of Calgary has collaborated with the Calgary Regional Partnership and its 18 member municipalities and the Tsuu T'ina Nation to develop this plan and address growth in the region.

Extensive archives of the process including videos of meetings are available at the following websites:

Imagine Calgary

City of Calgary Plan It

City of Calgary

Calgary Herald: article 1; article 2