Fortress Mountain Resort master plan concept approved by UCP government

The Fortress Mountain Resort master plan has achieved initial concept approval for its all-season facility in Kananaskis Country. It will now move to seek a disposition decision, which will determine if it has the legal right to use and develop the land. (File)

An all-season resort for the Kananaskis Country area has received its first approval from the provincial government.

Fortress Mountain Resort (FMR) master plan is geared toward creating a year-round recreational site to include hiking, mountain biking, adventure activities, glamping, zip-lining, sightseeing as well as all the regular winter activities.

An approval at this stage means the master plan “is complete, feasible and aligned with applicable policy and land-use plans,” said the United Conservative Party (UCP) government.

• Sign up for breaking news alerts from CTV News, right at your fingertips
• The information you need to know, sent directly to you: Download the CTV News App

The decision came with several terms, but the UCP said the approval means the plan has “greater certainty” it can go ahead if the company behind it can satisfy the multiple “high level conditions” set upon it.

Those include FMR revising its master plan to match the visitor capacity figures from an independent report and “remove references to motorized general recreation.”

It must also complete a series of other reports, including site-specific wildlife and fisheries surveys, an environmental protection plan, an emergency services strategy and “any required development agreements and completion of adequate Indigenous consultation.”

• Bearspaw First Nation voices concerns over Fortress Mountain resort plans in Kananaskis
• Alberta premier says decision on all-season resort in Kananaskis is on its way
• Skis and spas: Proposed Alberta all-season resort a test of new legislation

With the plan approved at the concept stage, the UCP says FMR can work toward a disposition decision that will determine if the company has the legal right to use and develop the land.

“Before that decision can be made, the conditions of this approval must be satisfied, additional approvals under other legislation may be required, and consultation with Indigenous communities must be completed and found adequate,” the UCP said.

A disposition approval is not guaranteed by a conceptual approval, the province said.