A major commercial development slated for the north of St. Albert was given the go-ahead by the Capital Region Board (CRB) this week.
The development is slated for the northern edge of St. Albert along the west side of Highway 2 and is being proposed by Triple Five Worldwide, a major commercial developer.
Board members voted unanimously to allow the development to go through after their administration initially recommended rejecting it.
This development will be built on the northern edge of St. Albert while other land between it and the existing Walmart site will remain undeveloped.
The board’s administrators interpreted that as non-contiguous or leapfrog development, which is against rules the board adopted as part of a regional growth plan last year.
City of St. Albert administrators also interpreted it that way and initially recommended rejection when it came before city council.
At the CRB Thursday, Mayor Nolan Crouse argued the development was not a leapfrog because the water and sewer servicing will come from across the highway and not from the south.
He told board members the Erin Ridge developments, which are kitty corner to Triple Five, will provide servicing.
Crouse said he understands the concerns of both the city and board administrations, but the development will be good for the community.
“I think it was the right thing for the community. It wasn’t something that was supported by our staff and therefore it was kind of one of those moments where you have to move forward politically.”
Crouse said he is pleased with the board’s decision, adding he didn’t want to see Triple Five left waiting for a landowner to the south.
The board rules against leapfrogging are meant to limit urban sprawl and make transit, snow clearing services and other services more efficient by limiting the amount they have to travel.
Crouse said he doesn’t believe that is a major concern.
“It is not going to have quite the bike trails in the first year or two and yes the transit bus is going to have to travel further and you want to have sidewalks in the first year, but I think in the potential of things, it will be lost in the noise.”
Regional mayors at the table also said there was no reason to stop the development.
“I think this is a matter of the internal politics of St. Albert,” said Edmonton Mayor Stephen Mandel.
“Sometimes we pay too much attention to planning and not enough attention to urban economics,” said Sturgeon County Mayor Don Rigney.
Jacqueline Thoman, a consultant for the company, said they are pleased with the CRB’s decision and are looking forward to going back to the city for third reading of their changes.
“Now that the CRB is behind us we will go to council on Dec. 20 and if council is supportive we will be able to move forward and submit the next phase of the application.”
The CRB’s rules require that no community give third reading to potential bylaw changes without its approval.
Thoman said the specifics of what will go into the site will be submitted to the city after third reading, should it be successful.
She did say it would be a mix of commercial and residential land.
