A so-called leapfrog development proposed for St. Albert’s northern edge got an endorsement from city council Monday.
Council approved an amendment to the municipal development plan that will exempt the project from the MDP’s requirement that all new growth be contiguous or adjacent to existing development.
The developer, Edmonton-based Triple Five, can now submit a proposal for an area structure plan, which it plans to do early in the new year, said Jacqueline Thoman, a consultant working for the firm.
“We’re pleased with the decision,” Thoman said. “We’re glad that they support development and we’re looking forward to moving forward.”
The land in question lies along the west side of St. Albert Trail north of the Walmart power centre. An undeveloped quarter section separates the land from the northernmost fringe of existing development.
St. Albert’s administrative team recommended against the proposal, arguing it would promote sprawl and uneven growth. The development would also involve extra costs to provide services like water, sewer and transit, administration argued.
Triple Five countered that its development is actually contiguous because it lies kitty-corner from the Erin Ridge North subdivision that’s being developed by Landrex on the other side of St. Albert Trail.
The issue went to the Capital Region Board where it was endorsed earlier this month.
Council spent a few minutes debating the merits of the project before unanimously supporting Triple Five’s bid.
“This would be a big step forward. It would greatly increase our economic development,” said Coun. Len Bracko.
Coun. Malcolm Parker saw the development as a “very positive step for St. Albert” that “takes us down that road of hopefully reducing the tax burden on residents.”
“We have a very reputable developer coming on stream, following the process,” he said. “It clearly conveys a message to the business community that in fact we are interested in attracting industrial-commercial growth to St. Albert.”
Mayor Nolan Crouse pressed Thoman for more details about the company’s plans for transit and trails, given that the project will be somewhat distant from existing development.
“I’m looking for some provisions from Triple Five to offset the costs of this dead space, arguably for a decade,” Crouse said.
“We fully intend to address these concerns within the area structure plan,” was Thoman’s response.
So far Triple Five has been vague in describing its development plans. Thoman didn’t have much new to add when interviewed Monday.
“The most that we can say now is it will be approximately 50 per cent commercial and 50 per cent residential,” she said.
The company’s focus will be on developing the non-residential component as highway commercial, she said.
“There’s a huge demand right now for commercial lands within the city that is going unmet,” Thoman said, “and we would love to satisfy that need.”
