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Lacombe County wants builders to provide recreation opportunities around Sylvan Lake

Developers proposing to build in Lacombe County near Sylvan Lake will be required to provide recreational opportunities for residents.Lacombe County council recently approved the Sylvan Lake Parks, Recreation and Open Space Plan, which outlines the types of recreational amenities the municipality wants to see with new housing developments.

Developers proposing to build in Lacombe County near Sylvan Lake will be required to provide recreational opportunities for residents.

Lacombe County council recently approved the Sylvan Lake Parks, Recreation and Open Space Plan, which outlines the types of recreational amenities the municipality wants to see with new housing developments.

A two-tiered system has been developed to provide guidance. For developments proposed within 800 metres of the lakeshore, higher-end amenities may be required, such as beaches, marinas, boat launches lookout points, change rooms or other typical park features like ice rinks and sports fields.

After gathering public feedback, the county added a launch point for lighter boats such as canoes and kayaks to that list.

Anita O’Driscoll, county planner and development officer, said the municipality has insisted that the lake be available to all residents, not just those who have already set up homes near its shores.

Developments proposed outside the 800 metres are expected to provide features like baseball diamonds, basketball courts, soccer fields, toboggan hills and other similar recreational opportunities. To ensure there is a mix of amenities, they can’t be duplicated within 3.2 km of each other, unless a need has been determined.

As the areas around the lake are developed and growing numbers of people live there, regional recreational facilities may be needed. The plan anticipates this by requiring developers pay a levy to share some of the costs in proportion to the size of their developments.

Also considered were future trails systems. Developers will be required to ensure the trails in their subdivisions connect to other trails in the area.

O’Driscoll said it was hoped that the route for a future paved regional trail around the lake could be outlined in the plan. But there was not enough public input on that to choose exactly where it should go.

Under the county’s Sylvan Lake Area Structure Plan, developers must leave 40 per cent of their land as undeveloped open space and dedicate 10 per cent to a municipal reserve that also cannot be developed. Those open spaces must be positioned so they link to open areas in neighbouring properties. It is the responsibility of developers to maintain open spaces.

Some councillors expressed concerns about how the county can ensure the areas are cared for in the future. Several councillors predicted the burden for cutting the grass and keeping those areas free of deadfall could eventually fall on the municipality.

“Realistically, we have to be prepared that in the future we are going to be looking after that,” said Coun. Brenda Knight.

The Town of Sylvan Lake, which was given an opportunity to review the plan, raised questions about future school sites. The county agreed to provide sites within municipal reserve land as schools are required.

pcowley@www.reddeeradvocate.com