Rocky View Council (RVC) held its third and final reading of the Prairie Gateway Area Structure Plan (ASP) at the Feb. 18 meeting-- approving the project in full.
The ASP is a collaborative effort between the County, The City of Calgary, and Shepard Development Corporation, aiming to enhance the region’s position within North America’s trade network by strengthening the Canada-Mexico (CANAMEX) trade corridor.
The Gateway is designed to attract a diverse range of industries ranging from manufacturing to agri-food processing and will provide advanced infrastructure, such as a state-of-the-art rail park.
The Plan area is approximately 886 hectares (2,190 acres) of land in Rocky View County, where the ASP southwest of Langdon will facilitate a large-scale rail-served industrial centre benefiting from access and proximity to the Canadian Pacific and Kansas City Southern Railway (CPKC) rail line, south of Township Road 232.
RVC issued a statement to the Rocky View Weekly on the approval, noting that this marked a significant milestone in their ongoing commitment to regional collaboration.
"This agreement represents a major step forward in strengthening economic opportunities, creating jobs, and fostering partnerships that benefit our region," the statement read.
The project is expected to generate $473 million in tax revenue within 35 years and create 30,000 well-paying jobs.
The approval authorizes the Chief Administrative Officer to negotiate and execute the deal agreement between RVC and The City of Calgary for the Prairie Economic Gateway by end of QI 2025.
Stuart Dalgliesh, Chief Operating Officer with the City of Calgary, was on hand at the RVC meeting to thank council for their decision, with Calgary's Council now expected to do the same officially approve the project later this month.
"We remain optimistic for a similar outcome when our City of Calgary Council colleagues review the agreement next week," the statement continued. "This initiative reflects our shared commitment to supporting growth and ensuring long-term prosperity for our communities."
The Prairie Gateway Project initially received approval to move forward from the Calgary Metropolitan Region Board (CMRB) in November of 2024. RVC voted a mere weeks later to withdraw from the board entirely. The CMRB would eventually announce its intention to wind down operations earlier this month.
