The fall session of St. Albert council meetings will kick off with a public hearing on a proposed area plan for the west part of the city Sept. 3.
The hybrid in-person and online hearing is scheduled to begin at 2 p.m. in council chambers at St. Albert Place. It is to precede the second and third reading of bylaw 14/2024, which would adopt the St. Albert West area structure plan (ASP), repeal the Cherot ASP and amend the North Ridge Phase 2 ASP. The first reading passed June 4.
There are a few deadlines approaching for individuals and groups who want to attend either in person or virtually, or make a written submission.
Individuals and groups can register with legislative services up to one hour before the hearing begins to present to council on their own behalf. There will also be a physical sign-in sheet at the door for walk-ins.
To act as an agent in-person or virtually on behalf of another individual or group, you must register with the city by emailing [email protected] by 3:30 p.m. Friday, Aug. 30. You must also submit an agent declaration form for each party you will be representing. It has to be signed by the agent and the party they will represent, and received by that same email address before 11 a.m. Sept. 3. Presentations are limited to five minutes, excluding time for questions and answers.
Finally, written submissions, which must include the author’s name, will be included in the Sept. 3 meeting agenda package and posted to the city’s website. They have to be sent to [email protected] before noon Wednesday, Aug. 28 to be considered.
An ASP is an official planning document that informs development in a given part of a municipality. The St. Albert West ASP would apply to an area bordered by the city boundary on the west and south; Ray Gibbon Drive, predominantly, on the east; and a line half a kilometre north of Villeneuve Road on the north.
Affecting 1,035 hectares, it would swallow the entire Cherot and North Ridge Phase 2 ASPs, and includes the land designated for the Lakeview Business District, a potential recreational centre, and the city's former solar farm destination, the Badger Lands.
About 600 hectares are considered developable. The city is required to protect almost 300 hectares that fall under the Environmental Reserve designation (flood lines around Carrot Creek). A protected area surrounding Lois Hole Centennial Provincial Park and the Ray Gibbon Drive right-of-way take up an additional 132 hectares.
The ASP's land-use concept of mixed-use development, commercial and industrial space, and some residential development (the Cherot neighbourhood) will “enable strategic and sustainable economic growth that enhances St. Albert's competitiveness and attractiveness to investors and employers within and beyond the Edmonton metropolitan region,” according to a draft published in April.
The ASP estimates development in the area will create 5,000 jobs and will push the city toward its desired goal of having a 70/30 residential and non-residential property tax split. Currently, that burden is closer to 80/20.
Seasons change and so does the bus
Labour Day will affect public transit and waste collection in St. Albert. Buses will run at statutory holiday levels on Monday, Sept. 2. Visit ridestat.ca for details. Likewise, there will be no garbage collection on Sept. 2. Trucks will pick up that trash along with their regular routes Sept. 3, meaning some bins may not be emptied until the early evening.
The Compost Depot and Mike Mitchell Recycling Depot will also be closed Sept. 2.
Grant applications deadline Sept. 10
The city is accepting applications for the community events grants program. The deadline is 5 p.m. Sept. 10.
The grants are designed to “offset costs associated with running community-wide special events,” according to an advertisement.
More information is available at stalbert.ca/cosa/admin/grants or by emailing [email protected].
