Cypress County removes non-council members from its MPC

By ANNA SMITH Local Journalism Initiative on December 4, 2025.

Cypress County council made major changes Tuesday to the municipal planning commission, removing non-council members.

This has been in process since the Nov. 10 public meeting and discussed for longer, says Mayor Dan Hamilton. The Subdivision and Development Authority bylaw was moved on Nov. 10, with the public hearing for the Land Use Bylaw amendments and the motions to repeal the MPC bylaw taking place Tuesday.

The changes, say Hamilton, were in the name of efficiency.

“We’re downsizing the MPC. It’s not going to have anybody at large. It’s going to be every two weeks, it’ll be done before council meetings. The reason we chose to go that way was for better efficiency so that we can speed things up,” said Hamilton.

The change will save the county an estimated $27,000, due to reduced costs associated with having members come in the additional day, including mileage, meals and other associated expenses. He added that it is the hope changes will also allow staff to spend less time tied up with meeting matters.

“We don’t want people sitting around on red tape. If they want to build something that is approvable, let’s get it done,” said Hamilton.