CURRENT INITIATIVE: Riverview Outline Plan
Strategic Plan Alignment: The Town of Rocky Mountain House Strategic Plan 2026-2030 focuses on economic prosperity and livability for residents and businesses. Two of Council's five main strategic priorities are (1) that the Town has serviced shovel-ready land for residential commercial and industrial uses, and (2) there is housing for all now, and in the future.
The Riverview area at the north end of Town was originally developed as the first of several phases. This initiative updated the Riverview Outline Plan with a goal of seeing future phases of residential houses take shape.
The update process included gathering public feedback on the draft plan through an online survey and an in-person open house in May 2026. Thank you to all who participated in the feedback process.
The What We Heard Report outlines the proposed updates to the Riverview Outline Plan and summarizes the public feedback that was received.
In July 2026, Council has approved the updated Riverview Outline Plan, providing the framework for the next stage of residential development in the Riverview area.
What happens next?
Administration is currently obtaining engineering cost estimates for the next phase of development. This work includes gathering detailed information on the infrastructure requirements and associated costs needed to support future residential growth within the plan area.
Once the engineering costs have been finalized and reviewed, Administration will prepare a report outlining the findings and recommendations. This information will be presented to Council in the fall of 2026 to support decision-making regarding the next phase of the development.
Other long-range concept plans:
Lochearn Park Residential Infill Concept
The 2017 Recreation Master Plan identified an overabundance of playgrounds. Due to its close proximately to other playgrounds, the plan recommended that Lochearn Park be repurposed. Willam Jessop Park on 57 Avenue and 57 Street was identified as another neighbourhood park for the local children and residents to continue to use if Lochearn Park was repurposed.
Council's Strategic Plan identifies both a need for more housing, and calls for a review of playgrounds and greenspaces for best use. To both these ends, Council explored what a residential infill project could look like at this site.
Cost to date: A portion of $80,000. (Total cost for three concept plans: Main Steet Corridor, School Site and Lochearn Park).
What happens next? Council has moved the Lochearn Park Residential Infill Concept Plan to the 2025 Service Level Review meeting for further discussion. If Council chooses to pursue this infill development, there are several decision-points to cross:
- Re-zone the park to Residential from Municipal Reserve land-use zone.
- This is a legislated process that will require, at minimum, direct notice to adjacent property-owners, comments from adjacent agencies and a Public Hearing.
- If the land is re-zoned, Council would then decide whether to offer the land for sale to a developer, or to install the utilities and subdivide the lots for sale.
School Site Concept Plan
This project arose from the 2024 Service Level Review meeting. Funding was allocated in the 2025 Budget.
Wild Rose School Division has identified that the division’s two elementary schools may eventually be consolidated and replaced with a new elementary school at the Lochearn/Pioneer School site. If the Ecole Rocky Elementary site is no longer needed for education, it will return to municipal ownership.
Cost to date: A portion of $80,000. (Total cost for three concept plans: Main Steet Corridor, School Site and Lochearn Park).
What happens next? Council has accepted the School Site Draft Concepts as information.
Main Street Entrance Concept Plan
This project arose from the 2024 Service Level Review meeting. Funding was allocated in the 2025 Budget.
In support of planning for future developments between 50th Street and Highway 11, and in light of the Alberta Transportation Highway 11 Functional Study and its proposed changes to the highway’s cross-sections and access points, the Town saw an opportunity to propose Main Street Entrance Concepts.
The rationale behind a Main Street Entrance concept plan supports many aspects of Council's Strategic Plan economic, tourism and social goals, such as:
- Creating a strong first impression
- Driving downtown engagement
- Bolstering and leveraging existing wayfinding
- Creating a unified sense of place
- Supporting improved circulation
- Ensuring safe interactions between pedestrian and vehicular users, and
- Fostering strong community identity, reflecting on the Town’s shared history
Cost to date: A portion of $80,000. (Total cost for three concept plans: Main Steet Corridor, School Site and Lochearn Park).
What happens next? Council has moved the Main Street Corridor Concept Plan to the 2025 Service Level Review meeting for further discussion.
