A pair of residential developments that could add 1,500 homes to Sylvan Lake are expected to commence this fall.
Lamont Land Inc. and a group led by Melcor Developments Ltd. each plans to develop a quarter section on the town’s south end.
Calgary-based Lamont, which was behind Sylvan Lake’s Ryders Ridge subdivision, owns the quarter section east of 50th Street and north of the new Memorial Trail. It plans to develop the area as CrestView, and is scheduled to present an outline plan to town council on Monday.
An earlier plan was rejected two weeks ago following pubic concerns about the loss of mature trees and the fact smaller lots would back onto existing larger homes to the north.
Lamont Land owner Gerry Lamont expressed optimism that these issues have been addressed in the revised plan. If it’s approved, he believes underground services for the first phase could be in place by fall.
“I’m pretty confident we’re going to get building permits out in October,” he said, adding that this could result in spring occupancies.
That first phase would consist of about 70 lots for smaller single-detached homes just south of the existing Pierview subdivision. Ultimately, said Lamont, CrestView would consist of about 800 dwelling units, ranging from multi-family to estate homes.
Melcor is the managing partner of a joint venture called Whitecap Communities, which is developing the quarter section west of Hwy 20 and south of Ryders Ridge. The project, to be called The Vista in Ryders Ridge, received development approval from Sylvan Lake council on June 25.
Guy Pelletier, Melcor’s Red Deer region vice-president, said ground work should be underway by the fall, with the first phase expected to produce about 70 lots.
“If we can get it together in time, we would bring those lots on this fall.”
The total build out would consist of about 713 homes, which Pelletier said would consist mainly of low-density houses, but also include duplexes, townhouses and likely apartments.
Both subdivisions are expected to include a commercial area: about two acres in the case of CrestView and five acres in The Vista in Ryders Ridge.
“That part of it is still conceptual,” said Lamont. “Nothing major, that’s for sure.”
Pelletier said the commercial area for The Vista in Ryders Ridge would be located next to Memorial Trail.
The first phase of The Vista in Ryders Ridge also has space for a 10-acre elementary school site.
Lamont anticipates that CrestView could be built out over a five-year period. He noted that 30 lots in its first phase have already been sold to builders, subject to municipal approval being granted.
Pelletier expects The Vista in Ryders Ridge to be phased over a period as long as seven to eight years. He and Lamont agreed that Sylvan Lake needs more residential lots, especially with Ryders Ridge nearing completion.
Both men spoke enthusiastically about the town’s growth potential.
“If you can work in the Red Deer corridor and live in a small, almost resort community, it has a lot of appeal to people,” said Lamont, whose company is active in both Alberta and British Columbia.
“We find Sylvan Lake to be one of the stronger markets in Alberta.”
Pelletier added: “Sylvan has had terrific growth over the years and it’s one we haven’t been involved in, until this point.”
A big difference between Ryders Ridge and CrestView is the higher elevation of the latter and its undulating landscape, said Lamont.
“It’s going to lend itself to a little bit more of a hillier type of development,” he said, adding that this should result in more higher-end estate homes.
“The topography will just demand that, because of the views.”
hrichards@www.reddeeradvocate.com