NAVIGATING THE APPROVALS PROCESS
Planning & Approvals
If the zoning or plan for your land doesn't allow what you want to build, we manage the process of changing it. We prepare and manage Land Use Amendments, Area Structure Plans, Direct Control bylaws and Development Permits for commercial, industrial and infrastructure projects across Alberta and Western Canada. Each application is built on a clear planning case that the municipality can approve and that will stand up at a hearing.
Land Use Amendments (rezoning / redesignation)
Changing the zoning on your land so your use is allowed. We prepare the application and planning rationale to move raw land, obsolete parcels and underused sites into industrial, logistics and commercial districts.
What We Do
The approval to build or operate a specific use, and relief from rules you can't meet. We guide site plans through approval and request variances for parking, setbacks, building height and servicing agreements.
Direct Control (DC) & Comprehensive Development (CD) Zoning
Custom zoning written for one site. When no standard district fits your use, we draft site-specific rules and take them through approval.
The clearance to move into an existing space, whether you are keeping the previous use or introducing a new one. We check the zoning rules before you commit to a property and guide your application through the municipality to prevent launch delays.
Area Structure Plans & Other Statutory Plans
The municipality's long-range plan for an area, covering land uses, roads and servicing. We write new Area Structure Plans and amend existing ones, along with Municipal Development Plans and concept plans, for employment lands, industrial quarter sections and business parks.
Provincial Approvals & Regulatory Alignment
Making sure the provincial rules that apply to your use are dealt with alongside the municipal approval. We identify and coordinate the provincial approvals your project needs so they line up with your municipal application and don’t hold up your schedule.
Appeals and Public Hearings
Representing your case when an approval is refused or a condition is unworkable. We present evidence to council, Subdivision and Development Appeal Boards (SDAB) and the Land and Property Rights Tribunal.
How an Approval Works
Not sure what you need? That’s normal. Some sites need a Land Use Amendment, some only a Development Permit, and some need a statutory plan or provincial approval first. We work out which before you spend money on applications. Not every project needs every step below.
01 // Planning Review
We confirm which approvals you need and the fastest realistic route.
02 // Pre-Application
We meet with municipal staff early to identify issues before you apply.
03 // Application
We prepare the planning rationale and coordinate the technical studies.
04 // Engagement
We lead neighbour and stakeholder outreach where it matters.
05 // Hearing and Decision
We present to council or the board and respond to conditions.
06 // Permit and Agreements
We take you through development permit and servicing agreements.
Projects We Work On
Our expertise is in commercial, industrial and infrastructure land. The categories below are where we work most often, but they aren't the limit of what we do. If your project doesn't fit one of them, tell us about it and we'll let you know how we can help.
Logistics, Warehousing & Distribution Centres
Approvals structured for operational efficiency and heavy transport viability.
Access & Mobility: Coordinate Transportation Impact Assessments (TIAs) and cross-jurisdictional road use agreements.
Site Mechanics: Secure approvals accommodating heavy vehicle turning radii and high-cube ceiling clearances.
Off-Site Execution: Negotiate municipal servicing agreements to ensure operational readiness
Commercial Strips, QSR & Retail Centres
Commercial rezonings and development permits balanced for tenant and municipal criteria.
Automotive & Access: Navigate drive-through queuing thresholds, arterial visibility, and reciprocal cross-access agreements.
Bylaw Balancing: Reconcile tenant parking formulas with municipal urban design and pedestrian mandates.
Diverse Asset Class Execution: Lead approvals for neighbourhood retail, service stations, QSR pads, and self-storage.
Waste Transfer, Material Recovery & Industrial Yards
Entitlements for high-impact, non-standard, and contentious industrial operations.
Regulatory Intersections: Align municipal land use bylaws with provincial environmental frameworks (e.g., waste, recycling, and storage facilities).
Site Mitigation: Resolve complex setback, landscape buffer, and stormwater management constraints.
Defensible Approvals: Lead stakeholder and public engagement to de-risk contentious public hearings
Critical Infrastructure & Energy Facilities
Specialized statutory pathways for power-intensive and mission-critical assets.
Bespoke Bylaws: Draft custom Direct Control (DC) bylaws tailored to specialized technology and energy uses.
Utility Integration: Coordinate with power and utility providers to satisfy intense load and cooling demands.
Buffers & Setbacks: Establish defensible environmental buffers and statutory setbacks for large-scale infrastructure.
Approved and ready to build?
Once your approvals are in place, we can lead your consultants, budget and schedule through to a construction-ready site
Next Step
Not sure what you need?
Tell us about the site and your plans.