An Eckville businessman has been given the green light to develop an industrial park just north of Eckville. Randy Eliuk plans to build 24 industrial lots on 43 acres he owns just off Secondary Hwy 766. The lots in the Medicine Valley Industrial Park would be suitable for light manufacturing, welding, warehousing, trucking or other similar types of businesses.
Lacombe County council gave final reading to a bylaw rezoning the land from agriculture on Thursday. A concept plan and development agreement were also approved. Eliuk said it will take some time before lots are available. “There is a lot of work to do yet before we start building anything,” he said. The first lots may be ready next year. How quickly lots are developed will depend on market demand. The concept plan for the industrial park anticipates building it out over five years. The interior roads will be paved and lots will get water from individual wells. Sewage will go to septic fields. Councillor Ken Wigmore questioned why a development only about 300 metres from the edge of Eckville would not be required to hook up to the town’s services.
County assistant planner Amanda Brea-Watson said town services do not have the capacity to take on the development at this time. A deferred services agreement is in place that will require industrial lot owners to hook up to the town when services are available.