Alberta Downs race track operators continue to make progress on meeting development permit conditions imposed by Lacombe County.
Track owner Robert Allen was supposed to have met all the conditions of the development agreement before racing began at the track just west of Lacombe. However, several conditions remained outstanding when the first races were run on April 18.
County officials agreed to allow racing to go ahead without an agreement in place as long as Allen continued to make progress on meeting all of the development conditions. If the county is not satisfied an agreement is getting closer, it could resort to a stop-work order, which would shut down racing.
Lacombe County commissioner Terry Hager said one outstanding condition was recently met. The track owner signed a deferred services agreement, in which he commits to hook up to regional water and sewer services when they become available.
A meeting took place on Friday to iron out details on a landscaping plan for the 142-acre site and the provision of a security to ensure there is money available to get the work done.
The county is also awaiting confirmation from the developer that Alberta Environment has signed off on the race track development.
Bob Jenkins, a consultant working on the project, said the landscaping and security agreement has been submitted to the county for signing. He hopes to have all conditions met by the end of the week.