The public will have their say on how land could be subdivided and developed within a 3,200-acre parcel just north of Red Deer near Hwy 2A and north of Hwy 11A.
City planners are looking for input into preparing a draft Major Area Structure Plan for the area north of Hwy 11A. It is part of an area the city annexed from Red Deer County in 2009. An open house will run on Thursday from 4 to 8 p.m. in Activity Room 3 at G.H. Dawe Community Centre at 56 Holt St.
The area structure plan is a broad, long-range planning tool that guides subdivision and development.
Orlando Toews, senior planner with the City of Red Deer, said they aren’t coming to the open house with an actual concept for the area that runs west to Hwy 2, east to Red Deer River, about one km north of Hwy 11A, with Hwy 11A as the southern boundary.
The open house is being held so the public is informed that this major area structure plan is coming and what’s involved in the process.
“We also want to tell them what we know about the land — that there are certain features and infrastructure there and not there,” said Toews.
The land has a real mix — country residential development, including Central Park, individual acreages and farms, plus industrial areas like the Chiles Park, some natural areas including Hazlett Lake, railway lines, and has Hwy 2A running through.
Municipal water and sewer services would have to be extended through the area, Toews added.
Landowners and stakeholders will be asked what features they know of and if there’s anything they would like to see happen with the land.
“Are there areas they want to see developed? Are there red flags they want us to know?”
City planners recognize they don’t have a blank slate in which to chart the course of development since there are existing uses in place, Toews said.
There’s a real mix of lot sizes, too.
“That’s part of the challenge — how do we balance future development in those areas to make sure we can accommodate what’s in there already while still allowing future development to occur?” said Toews.
As the plan is crafted, there will be more chances for area residents to review and comment. Once this is done, the draft plan will go to city council for its consideration.
ltester@www.reddeeradvocate.com