Lacombe County is developing a plan to ensure that recreation keeps pace with its growing population around Sylvan Lake.
Council recently debated the merits of creating a parks, recreation and open space plan for the area around Sylvan Lake, which is expected to see a number of new developments in coming years.
Under the proposed plan, the county would divide recreational requirements for developers into two tiers.
Those wishing to develop choice locations within 1.6 km of the lake would be required to provide higher-end amenities, such as beaches, boat launches, marinas, or even spray parks or regional ice rinks.
Outside the 1.6-km zone, developers would be expected to provide less elaborate features such as basketball and tennis courts, picnic areas and local ice rinks.
Developers would be allowed to choose, in consultation with the county, what sorts of features they wanted to build.
It is expected that staff will bring back a draft plan in November. Final approval of a plan would follow later in the year or early next year.
Council also discussed what responsibility developers would have to contribute to more expensive facilities, such as indoor rinks or pools.
County commissioner Terry Hager said establishing how and when to provide those kinds of facilities will be included in a larger recreation, parks and open spaces plan and recreation plan for the entire county that likely won’t be started for a couple of years.
“That’s the reason we moved forward with this (plan) in advance. We couldn’t just wait for the countywide one,” Hager said.
For large projects like arenas, the county would likely look at seeking help from other municipalities or perhaps even developers.
While developers have contributed to recreation in the past, they have not been approached to help with major facilities.
However, all those developing around Gull and Sylvan Lakes have been charged a lake access levy, which will be used to pay for boat launches, beaches, picnic areas or other places for the public to enjoy the lake.