The County notifies people of development through a combination of direct letters and the County website. More information is available at the County Office or on the County website under Planning.

All Municipal Planning Reports are published online. The reports include project details like the project plan, site plan, any pictures or drawings and applicable planning regulations. You can also contact the planning department if you want details about a proposed development before you file an appeal. The planning department will only provide project details, not advice on whether to appeal or not.

To find the relevant report go the Municipal Planning Commission Agenda, click the meeting date included on your Notice of Decision from the top menu bar. The agenda will appear and you can select the report for the item you are interested in.

A Development Decision Appeal can be made by:

1. The applicant, or authorized agent, can appeal an approval with conditions, a refusal, or a deemed refusal. A deemed refusal is when the Development Authority has not made a decision within 40 days of accepting an application as complete, unless an extension was granted by the applicant.
2. By anyone else who feels they are affected by an approved discretionary development permit. There is no appeal for a permitted use development permit.

Subdivision Decision Appeal can be made by:

1. The applicant
2. A government body – appeal must be related to their authority (Environment, Transportation)
3. The school board – appeal must be related to school reserves
4. The municipality – if they don’t think their interests were considered

Note: An adjacent landowner does not have the right to appeal a subdivision decision.

The appeal deadline is specified in the Notice of Decision/Conditional Approval Notice you received.  Generally, there is 21 days to file an appeal.  The legislation states there is 7 days mailing time and 14 days to file the appeal.

The details on where to file your appeal are included in the Notice of Decision you received.  Generally, ISDAB appeals are filed with the Secretary of the ISDAB, at 3755 - 43 Ave, Camrose AB  T4V 3S8.

All appeals must be submitted on the ISDAB Appeal Form along with the Appeal Fee.  Contact the secretary of the ISDAB for the current fee.

If any part of the requirements is missing at the appeal deadline, the appeal will be void.

Once an appeal has been accepted the Secretary of the ISDAB will arrange a hearing date. Hearings must be held within 30 days of receiving an appeal. Once the hearing date is set everyone who received the initial Notice of Decision will be sent a Notice of Appeal by direct mail (unless email has been agreed to). This includes:

• The applicant
• The registered owner
• The appellant
• Any municipality that is adjacent to or has an Intermunicipal Development Plan in the affected area
• The local school board(s)
• Any adjacent landowners
• Any relevant government department

The notice must include:

• the place, time and date of the Hearing
• the nature of the proposed development which is the subject of appeal
• that any person claiming to be affected by the appeal may submit a written brief to the Secretary of the Board prior to the date set for the Hearing, and
• that any person who has not submitted a written brief in accordance with subsection (iii) and who claims to be affected by the appeal and that the Board agrees to hear, may speak to the appeal at the Hearing

An ISDAB Hearing is a ‘quasi-judicial’ hearing and runs much like a court would. This means that the Board makes decisions based on the findings of the fact-based evidence that they are presented with, and the legal rules related to the application. This process allows the ISDAB to make a decision on a subdivision or development matter after conducting a hearing fairly and in accordance with the legislation, administrative laws, and the principles of natural justice.

Hearings use the following format:

1. Introduction by the Chairperson. The Chairperson will outline how the hearing will take place and what the parties’ responsibilities are. They will also introduce the members of the board and ask in there are any concerns about conflict of interest with the board members and the people in the room.
2. Planning Authority’s Presentation. The Planning Authority will provide the background on the subdivision or development, including why the decision was made and all the resources used to reach the decision.
3. Applicant’s Presentation. The applicant will describe its proposal.
4. Appellant’s Presentation. The appellant will explain why they submitted their appeal. This is done by reading any written submissions first, then allowing anyone in support of the appellant’s presentation to speak.
5. Presentations opposed to the appeal. Again, written submissions are provided first, then verbal submissions are allowed.
6. The Board can ask questions of anyone present to seek clarification.
7. The Board closes the hearing. At this point no more submissions can be made to the Board and they deliberate in private.

The ISDAB can amend the process above or provide additional guidelines in the interest of a fair and efficient hearing. For example, they can limit speaking time, or ask that only new concerns be raised.

The Intermunicipal Subdivision and Development Appeal Board or Municipal Government Board can:

• uphold the decision of the Development Authority,
• reverse the decision of the Development Authority, or
• change, add, or remove any of the conditions attached to the decision. 

The decision of the ISDAB is final and binding. The only appeal is on a rule of law, where fair procedure was not followed.

The Intermunicipal Subdivision and Development Appeal Board consists of members of the public at large or Elected Officials appointed by the respective regional partner municipalities. Members are chosen by the respective Council at the Organizational Meeting from applications submitted.  All ISDAB members are trained on their roles and responsibilities as board members.