Project History
The River Heights Area Structure Plan (ASP) was approved by Council in 2011. This ASP describes a roadmap for development for the neighbourhoods of The Willows, Rivercrest, River Heights, the Summit of Riversong and Southbow Landing.
Development of the Southbow Landing Neighbourhood Plan began in 2012. A public workshop in 2013 mapped out the neighbourhood plan, with public input guiding the location and type of land uses within the neighbourhood.
This configuration and what we see in the approved Neighbourhood Plan was presented to Council and approved in 2015, with land use approved in 2017.
Since then, Qualico acquired the lands in 2022, and broke ground in 2023.
The first residential phase has since been subdivided and construction has commenced in the southern end of the community.
As the development of Southbow Landing proceeds, the build out of James Walker Trail will create an additional connection through southern Cochrane and will alleviate some of the pressures currently placed on River Heights Drive.
Policy Alignment
All new applications must align with the following plans to ensure they meet the vision and goals of the Town of Cochrane. Follow the links below to learn more.
Cochrane’s Municipal Development Plan states that within the River Heights Area Structure Plan residential lands “shall provide a range of dwelling types”. This multi-family application provides diverse housing options.
Within Cochrane’s Council’s Strategic Plan for 2022-2025, the two objectives of Livability and Connectivity align closely with our proposal - “Cochrane is a complete community, providing everything required for residents, visitors and businesses alike to live, work and thrive.”
Cochrane’s Sustainability Plan aims to provide a diverse, accessible, safe and affordable Cochrane for all income levels, with the option of ownership and rental that is sustainable.
The River Heights Area Structure Plan provides direction that a diverse housing mix that offers opportunity to all income levels as well as multi-family units be provided and located along the major roadways.
The Southbow Landing Neighbourhood Plan is a master planned community that was designed to connect people, places and the environment. Specifically noting three housing principles; locate density strategically, facilitate placemaking, and provide variety and choice in housing.
Timeline of Community Buildout
Stage 1 Neighbourhood Plan Amendment - APPROVED
As Southbow Landing enters its first phases of development, the project team updated the western portion of Southbow Landing Neighbourhood Plan (NP) to ensure the best configuration of land uses. A series of minor revisions and updates were approved by Council in January 2025 to provide improvements to the plan while ensuring the original vision of the NP in maintained. Public engagement for this application occurred in June 2024.
Improvements included:
• Additional pedestrian connectivity created through green park spaces and expanded pathways;
• Minor block adjustments to residential streets to improve pedestrian connectivity;
• The addition of a dog park along River Heights Drive and along the souther boundary of the Plan Area;
• Revision to the Commercial parcel to accommodate a greater variety of businesses;
• Preservation of a wetland directly adjacent to Hwy 22; and
• Various minor formatting, numbering and figure adjustments throughout the document.
No further amendments are proposed for this area, and it is now under construction.
