Red Deer city council threw its support behind a revised AltaLink Transmission Line Rebuild route in West Park on Monday.
During the Alberta Utilities Commission hearings on AltaLink’s plans to rebuild transmission lines, as well as build new lines and substations, AltaLink proposed a modification to the route.
Last March, council rejected a short stretch of the AltaLink’s first choice of a line in the West Park area because it was close to properties and would have meant a lot of tree clearing.
Paul Goranson, director of Development Services, told council that the city heard that the West Park residents who were previously opposed are now in support, except for one resident.
AltaLink proposed a short jog in the line to bypass a house that had been built underneath the line decades ago. The preferred route was detoured around the lot.
Goranson said AltaLink has an agreement in principle to purchase the lot, with plans to demolish the house. He said there will be discussions with the city over the remnant piece of property.
“There will be additional tree clearing along that route, which was our prime concern with the old route that they were proposing,” said Goranson. “In essence because they have that existing right of way, they could go in at any time and clear those trees that will likely come out as part of this.”
The city does not have direct decision-making over the process and route.