A subdivision overlooking Sylvan Lake that was proposed more than a decade ago has been revived by its developers.
Qualico Communities wants to develop 59 home lots on about 95 acres on the north shore of the lake west of the Summer Village of Sunbreaker Cove. The project will be called Palm Cove and will be next to Qualico’s six-lot Palm Bay development in Lacombe County.
The developers first introduced the project in 2011 and got approval from the county to rezone the land in preparation for homes.
County senior planner Cajun Paradis said some minor clearing work began on the site and then the development was paused and rezoning approval lapsed.
Paradis said in the company’s new rezoning application the subdivision’s design has been revised to maximize the number of homes that will have lake views and the average lot size has been reduced to 0.25 acres from 0.4 acres. All of the necessary technical studies have been completed or updated as needed.
Reducing the footprint of the development and making the best use of the site’s natural characteristics is what the county was looking for when it created the residential conservation cluster zoning being sought by Qualico, said a report to council.
Kirsten Warwick, Qualico sales and marketing director, said they hope to get started on the project this year if the necessary approvals are lined up, however, much work remains to be done before shovels can hit the ground.
The market was soft when the project was first proposed, but that has changed.
“We are more optimistic today than we ever have been about the (recreation) property in central Alberta,” said Warwick. “We’ve seen higher demands over the last few years, certainly on the resale side, and we hope that translates to the new home side as well.”
A public hearing has been set for April 14 when county council will consider second reading.