Penhold residents got the chance to survey a proposed outline plan for a new development that would see an additional 656 residential units added to the town.
Laebon was out showing off the plans for its Palisades development. The development would be in the southeastern corner of town. The current proposal mostly has lots that have attached garages, approximately 63 lots with no garages and 24 townhouse units.
Steve Bontje, the chief operating officer for Laebon, said at full build-out the development would have 656 units with an estimated 1,836 residents.
“The Palisades is something that's really unique for us,” Bontje said. He pointed to Waskasoo Creek, which runs through the area, as the recreation centrepiece.
“There will be trails and parks,” Bontje said. In addition to moving a section of Waskasoo Creek, which has to get the OK from Alberta Environment and Sustainable Resource Development, Laebon is planning on putting in a constructed wetland system as a stormwater management measure.
The Palisades is directly south of another Laebon development in Penhold, Park Place.
“Penhold's actually a very vibrant market for us,” Bontje said. “People are excited about Penhold.”
The Palisades development's north border is approximately Boundary Street, with the south edge close to the town limits.
The development would be a phased one. Bontje said they'd normally develop 50 lots at a time – in this case, the start point would be the northeast corner of the development area, starting around Waskasoo Avenue and Mann Drive and moving towards Robinson Avenue.
“I would suggest we probably have over 10 years,” Bontje said of the timeline.
Penhold Mayor Dennis Cooper said the plan seemed well thought out but had a few points he was going to raise with Laebon.
He had been hoping to see the different types of homes more mixed together.
“I'd like to see more walking paths,” Cooper said, noting the plan calls for “beautiful green space.”
He said he is interested in seeing how the phasing and the servicing was supposed to work.
The outline plan has not yet been approved by council. Bontje said he's hoping that can be dealt with in the next couple of months so shovels can hit the dirt late this summer.
