The Town of Niverville, late last week, received an update on its ambitious annexation proposal made nearly two years ago.
The Provincial Municipal Board has recommended adjusting the scope to plan for 25 years rather than the original 50-year vision.
The annexation process began late in 2022, with the announcement of the proposal to annex land from the RM of Hanover, which if approved would allow the town to double in size.
The Public Hearings, originally scheduled for December 2022, ended up being significantly delayed and only happened in February 2024.
Then after the Municipal Board had reviewed the proposal they responded to Niverville's annexation request with a recommendation.
Council then took a few days to review the information and at Tuesday morning's town council meeting, Niverville Mayor Myron Dyck read the following statement.
“So, Niverville has received the Municipal Board’s report and recommendation on the proposed annexation being sought by the town of Niverville from the RM of Hanover.
The Municipal Board has recommended to the Minister of Municipal and Northern Relations that the annexation not be approved as proposed, as it assumes a 50-year growth time span.
The Municipal Board, in its report, recommends amending the proposal to address the need to expand Niverville’s boundaries that reflect projected growth over a 25-year time span. The town is encouraged that the Municipal Board recognizes that there is a need for the expansion of our communities’ boundaries in the near future.
Over the coming months, the town will be working with its consultants and the RM of Hanover, on deciding how best to proceed with the revised proposal. These efforts would include addressing the Municipal Board's concerns and identifying shared interest between the municipalities.”
Dyck noted that the town is encouraged by the board’s acknowledgment of Niverville’s need for growth. However, he adds that making this kind of request isn’t a surprise to council.
“This is a pretty standard procedure – municipal board decisions often come back asking for amendments.”
According to the Mayor, there’s no specific timeline for moving forward, as the Municipal Board has requested additional information, which Niverville and its consultants are working to address.
“We’re making sure we answer all their questions thoroughly. Once that’s done, it’ll go to the Minister of Municipal Relations, not back to the municipal board.”
When asked if the process would involve more public input, Dyck clarified that the original proposal already included public consultation, so the amendment process would not require additional public feedback.
“The public has had their say on this. The Minister will consider the board’s recommendations based on the information gathered in that initial process.”
Despite the need for revisions, Mayor Dyck emphasized that a 25-year plan is well within provincial norms, even if Niverville initially aimed for a more long-term approach.
“Our consultant’s growth projections were solid, and we stand by them. We believed in the 50-year plan based on Niverville’s needs and wanted to provide options for landowners. But we also understand that the board has a playbook, and that typically means planning for 20 to 25 years.”
As the town prepares to adjust, the mayor said they are focused on what a 25-year plan would entail, balancing growth projections with sustainable land use.
“We’ll look at acreage, density targets, and being better stewards of the land.”
Dyck added that any changes they would make would not affect landowners’ autonomy to decide whether to keep their land agricultural or consider development options.
While the town may have aimed high with its original proposal, Dyck said he and his team are still optimistic about the future.
“Honestly, this didn’t come as a complete surprise. It’s a step back, but only a small one. We’re ready to keep planning for Niverville’s future, with the community’s best interests at heart.”