Municipal Urban Service Area Off Highway Vehicle (OHV) Strategic Plan
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.
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.
Urban Service Area Mapping Activities
Use this map to place pins locating and describing various "Problem Areas," "OHV Opportunities," "OHV Challenges" and potential "OHV Staging Areas" and "Trail Connections."
Problem Areas: Please identify current “problem areas” in regard to OHV use in the Urban Service Area using the problem area pin. These can be areas that you have witnessed illegal OHV use, conflict between OHVs and other recreational uses, environmental degradation caused by OHV use, or any other "problems" or conflicts you have witnessed pertaining to OHV use.
OHV Staging Areas: Do you think there is a need for additional OHV staging areas within Fort McMurray? If so, identify their location on the map using the staging area pin. Please clearly indicate why you think a new staging area would be beneficial in this location.
Opportunities for OHV Use: Specific to the firebreak areas surrounding Fort McMurray, what opportunities for OHV use have been created? Identify these opportunities on the map using the idea pin. Please clearly indicate the opportunity you see.
Challenges for OHV Use: Specific to the firebreak areas surrounding Fort McMurray, what challenges for OHV use have been created? Identify these challenges on the map using the idea pin. Please clearly indicate the problem you see.
Trail Connections: Are there any trail connections, or key linkages, that are currently missing within (or directly adjacent to) the Urban Service Area? Identify these missing trail links on the map using the improvement area pin.
