Rocky View County council put the brakes on new data centre proposals and put money behind an agricultural investment push at its July 21 meeting at County Hall in Rocky View County.
Council imposed a temporary freeze on applications to redesignate land for data centres until it finishes an Emerging Sector Strategy and new rules, now under development. The moratorium took effect immediately, the county said in a news release posting decisions from the meeting.
At the same meeting, councillors approved a $33,520 contract for a third-party Bioeconomy Development Opportunity (BDO) Zone Assessment. The study aims to attract agricultural investment to the county, with partial funding from an earlier federal grant. The BDO program helps regions show off their farm and forest resources to lure biobased manufacturing companies.
The data centre decision also included By-law C-8766-2026, which reclassifies data centre campuses from a permitted use to a discretionary one. That means council will have the final say on individual data centre development permits, rather than letting them proceed under general rules. The bylaw also clarifies that only backup power facilities count as part of a data centre, drawing a line between those and utility-scale natural gas plants.
The Emerging Sector Strategy has been in the works since April 2025. Phase one, with engagement activities scheduled for early this year, is underway. Four data centre companies, Beacon, Kalina, Kineticor, and Wildrose, have shown interest in the county. Council wants rules in place before letting more projects move ahead.
Council also launched a long-term Land Use Bylaw Renewal project to modernize development rules and make them clearer and faster for residents and builders. Other approvals included a non-binding deal with the Springbank Trail and Pathways Association to study a possible multi-use path linking Cochrane and Bragg Creek. No county money is committed for construction.
In Langdon, council filled the last two spots on the new Municipal Policing Committee. Dwayne Austin and Tanya Creamer were appointed, joining earlier picks Jennifer Carson and Jim Friesen, along with Division 7 Councillor Ken Ball. The committee gives residents a voice on local RCMP service under provincial rules.
Subdivision applications in Divisions 2 and 6 got the green light with conditions, while a Division 3 proposal was sent back to staff for changes to better fit the county’s long-term development plan.
