Okotoks is growing fast, but is it growing wisely?
In this episode of the Okotoks Podcast, Carlin Lutzer sits down with Foothills County resident Paul Howarth to discuss the pressures, concerns, and civic responsibilities surrounding Okotoks’ rapid growth plans.
The conversation explores traffic congestion, emergency response delays, school capacity, infrastructure costs, density, builder quality, public hearings, and whether residents still have meaningful power to shape the future of their town.
Paul emphasizes that the issue is not being anti-growth, but being pro-planning: growth should support both current residents and future families, with infrastructure, services, and community identity protected before development races ahead.
Listen For:
3:05 Is Okotoks growing too fast without the right planning?
8:24 Can local councils actually stop or reshape major developments?
19:10 Do public hearings matter if decisions already feel made?
30:04 Who is Okotoks really building all this new housing for?
44:45 How much power do residents still have over Okotoks’ future?
Guest: Paul Howarth, Foothills County Resident & Community Development Advocate
Connect with Carlin
