Red Deer County has approved a Sikh temple just north of the city.
The applicants hope to build a 3,600-square-foot temple on 21 acres just west of Blindman Industrial Park. The building would include a sanctuary, priest room, offices and storage space. The basement will have a fellowship assembly hall, kitchen and storage.
A report to the county’s municipal planning commission says that services will mostly occur from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays with additional services on holidays. About 25 to 30 vehicles are expected on service days.
Two residents sent in letters of concern, mostly related to the dangers of temple-goers having to turn off Highway 2A onto Range Road 272 to reach the temple. There are no turning lanes at that spot.
The planning commission approval includes a condition that a traffic impact assessment must be done before construction goes ahead.
Coun. Lonny Kennett was concerned that the group behind the temple could be hit with huge upgrading costs if future road improvements were required as the number of worshippers increased over time.
County assistant manager Dave Dittrick said the county could work with the temple if that scenario arose to finance the cost of road upgrades over 30 years.