A development plan on Red Deer’s east side is drawing some concerns about its design guidelines, as well as worries about a major expressway that could run alongside it.
On Monday, city council discussed the Timber Ridge Neighbourhood Area Structure Plan that involves the quarter section next to 55th Street, north of the Rosedale neighbourhood and east of Timberstone Park neighbourhood.
The plan includes green space in all four quadrants, a constructed wetland, interconnected paved trails, and a district commercial centre.
A major road that has yet to be built, which would become 20th Avenue, is slated to be on the east side.
Coun. Cindy Jefferies said she has reservations about plans for 20th Avenue.
The city is looking to build it in 2022 as a two-lane road, but it could ultimately be a six-lane road.
Enhanced landscape and a sound attenuation fence will be constructed.
The speed limits, size and width of this road are raising concerns with her.
“In more recent years, we’ve talked about cost of infrastructure and if we can continue to afford to build things the way we have,” said Jefferies.
“I think that balance between road and walking and cycling has changed from even five years ago.”
Jefferies said she has some angst around the cost of adding berms and other infrastructure associated with 20th Avenue, plus the road itself. These costs are becoming unsustainable, she said.
City manager Craig Curtis said the city’s Integrated Movement Study, which looks at how Red Deerians can move with various transportation methods, may well affect the future plans of the 20th Avenue road and overall east-side ring road known as the North Highway Connector.
It may happen that the road will have to be looked at in a different way as development continues east, he said.
Jefferies had hoped the new neighbourhood design guidelines would have been incorporated into this plan, but these guidelines are not ready.
“I can see glimpses of what I think our future neighbourhood standards and guidelines will look like,” said Jefferies, referring to the Timber Ridge plan. “I think this is a big step in the direction we’ll be heading . . . to try and incorporate some of our new guidelines.”
Part of the guidelines look at how to make neighbourhoods more walkable and environmentally sustainable.
Several councillors also questioned the location of the commercial area after developers and a real estate broker said it wasn’t near a main road entrance.
The Neighbourhood Area Structure Plan has several proposed changes, including changing the kindergarten to Grade 9 separate school site to a kindergarten to Grade 8 public school site.
Council gave first readings to the East Hill Major Area Structure Plan bylaw amendment, the Timber Ridge Neighbourhood Area Structure Plan bylaw, and the land-use bylaw amendment.
A public hearing will be held on Sept. 4.
ltester@www.reddeeradvocate.com