Legalities of Off-Highway Vehicle Use in the Urban Service Area – March 14 Council Agenda

Residents will have the opportunity to learn more about off-highway vehicle (OHV) use in the Fort McMurray urban service area at March 14 Council meeting.

  • Administration will be providing Council with information on the legalities of OHV use in the urban service area.
  • The Urban Service Area OHV Strategic Plan was presented to Council in 2022 and includes recommendations related to OHV use in Fort McMurray. One of the key recommendations is to conduct a thorough assessment of OHV use in the urban service area before any changes are made. The information being presented to Council is part of this initial assessment.

Individuals interested in presenting to Council on this topic can register as a delegate at rmwb.ca/council. Learn more here.

The full Council agenda package can be found at rmwb.ca/council.

OHV Update to Council March 14

On March 14, Council will discuss Off-Highway Vehicle (OHV) use in the Fort McMurray urban service area. The agenda details and information on registering as a delegate will be available on March 8 at rmwb.ca/council.


The Urban Service Area Off Highway Vehicle Strategic Plan is available here.

The public engagement campaign held for the Municipal Urban Service Area Off Highway Vehicle Strategic Plan update has concluded and the feedback collected was used to shape the update to the Municipal Urban Service Area Off Highway Vehicle Strategic Plan. Click here to review the survey results.

Background

The Municipal Urban Service Area OHV Strategic Plan for the Urban Service Area of Fort McMurray is being updated based on feedback from the community. While residents living in rural communities were certainly encouraged to take the survey, the questions and OHV Strategic Plan update are focused on the Urban Service Area.

Prior to the public survey, targeted workshops were held with OHV groups and stakeholders, local right holders, regulating bodies, representatives from different levels of government and municipal staff. The feedback collected through these workshops was used to help shape the survey. The results from the survey and the workshops are being used to develop the update to the OHV Strategic Plan.

What is an OHV Strategic Plan?

The Urban Service Area OHV Strategic Plan is a guiding document that provides recommendations to improve and encourage responsible OHV use in Fort McMurray. The plan also includes an assessment of current OHV use around Fort McMurray and comparable communities across Western Canada as well as the results of the public engagement campaign.

The OHV Strategic Plan does not include OHV Bylaws.

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Forum

Existing OHV Master Plan Recommendations

Below is a list of the key recommendations from the existing OHV Master Plan: https://ic11.esolg.ca/11198087_RMWB/en/parks-and-recreation/resources/Documents/OHV_Master_Plan.pdf. Do you agree or disagree with these recommendations in the context of the Urban Service Area? Please explain. Initiate the development of new OHV trails and staging areas directly to the north and south of Fort McMurray Develop comprehensive trail planning and design standards; Develop a comprehensive trail signage plan; Regularly review the Engineering Servicing Standards to continually improve access control measures; Continue to manage existing staging areas with appropriate amenities and signage; Initiate a feasibility study to develop an OHV Park / training facility; Explore potential to collect fees for trail access and usage; Develop comprehensive maintenance procedures; Maintain and strengthen relationships with oil sands companies to coordinate future development; and Identify the need to include other trail users and stakeholders in ongoing management.
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Opportunities & Challenges: Firebreaks

Specific to the firebreak areas surrounding Fort McMurray, what opportunities for OHV use have been created? How we can leverage on these opportunities? Additionally, what challenges for OHV use have been created by these new firebreaks? What tactics can be used to mitigate for these challenges?
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OHV Trails

What trails do you often access while using OHVs? Is there currently sufficient access to these trails / OHV hotspots from the designated staging areas within the Urban Service Area? If not, what additional access / trails would you suggest? 
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OHV Staging Areas

According to Schedule ‘B’ of the Consolidated Off-Highway Vehicle Bylaw No. 98/078: https://www.rmwb.ca/en/mayor-council-and-administration/resources/Documents/bylaws/Off-Highway-Vehicle-Urban-Service-Area-Bylaw-98-078-Consolidated.pdf, there are currently four designated OHV staging areas in Fort McMurray (Abasand, Horse Pasture Park, Timberlea/Tower Road and Snye Park). Of these four, are any in need of improvements / upgrades to better suit the users? If so, what do you suggest? Is there a need for any new staging areas within the Urban Service Area? If so, where and why?
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Consolidated Off-Highway Vehicle Bylaw No. 98/078 (Urban Service Area)

The existing Bylaw (98/078): https://www.rmwb.ca/en/mayor-council-and-administration/resources/Documents/bylaws/Off-Highway-Vehicle-Urban-Service-Area-Bylaw-98-078-Consolidated.pdf regarding OHV use within the Urban Service Area indicates that: "No person, other than a Bylaw Officer, shall use or operate an Off-Highway Vehicle on any Highway, roadway, or any public land within the Fort McMurray Urban Service Area except on land within a “Designated Area” for the purposes of gaining access to areas outside of the boundaries of the Urban Service Area, unless authorized by special permit issued by the Regional Clerk, or other officer authorized by the Council of the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo to issue such special permit;" and "OHV use in designated areas is only permitted between the hours of 7:00am and 10:00pm."Do you agree with these regulations? Why or why not? What changes to this Bylaw: https://www.rmwb.ca/en/mayor-council-and-administration/resources/Documents/bylaws/Off-Highway-Vehicle-Urban-Service-Area-Bylaw-98-078-Consolidated.pdf, if any, would you recommend? Why do you recommend these changes? How would these changes benefit the residents of Fort McMurray?
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Workshop Survey

OHV Urban Master Plan Update

CLOSED: This survey has concluded.

Please complete this brief survey to provide your input on a number of OHV-based topics. Your responses are extremely valuable and will help shape the recommendations of this OHV Urban Master Plan Update.

Thank you to those who participated in this engagement. You can learn more about this project below, or subscribe to Participate Wood Buffalo to stay connected (or get involved) with future engagement projects impacting our region.

Public Survey - OHV Urban Master Plan

CLOSED: This survey has concluded.

Please share your feedback by completing this short survey. All opinions and suggestions are very important to us and are being used to help shape the update to the OHV Master Plan - Urban Service Area.

Thank you for taking time to share your thoughts on OHV use in Fort McMurray!

Thank you to those who participated in this engagement. You can learn more about this project below, or subscribe to Participate Wood Buffalo to stay connected (or get involved) with future engagement projects impacting our region.

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