RM of Sherwood answers Regina expansion plans with 'let's talk'

Leaders of the Rural Municipality of Sherwood, where the City of Regina has cast an eye towards expansion, say their urban cousin seems to be moving very quickly and the RM would like to talk things over.

On Friday, Regina Mayor Michael Fougerereleased an expansion planthat could lead to large chunks of the neighbouring RM becoming a part of his city through some form of annexation.

On Monday, the RM said it isOK with some areasbeing absorbed into Regina, butnoted the city's overall objective seems like too much too soon.

"What disappoints us the most is ... how it came about," Tim Probe, Deputy Reeve of the RM of Sherwood told CBC News. "Bluntly put, they came right at us."

According to Probe, his fellow RM council members and officials were shocked by Regina's move.

"That disappoints us," he said, but added they are ready to talk. "We think good discussion can get us through the next few months."

According to a background report, prepared by administrators for the City of Regina, the expansion plans are a key component of the city's Official Community Plan a document which is about to be finalized.

The officials said they had to speed up the development of their plan because the RM of Sherwood was putting the final touches on its own Official Community Plan and Regina wants to make sure both communities are working together.

Officials say the expansion they've identified would see Regina able to accommodate a future population of 500,000more than double the city's population today.