MOUNTAIN VIEW COUNTY - County council has approved the redesignation of 66 acres of agricultural district to business park district to facilitate the development of Phase 1 of the proposed Noble Business Park east of Olds.
“It is very much in line with the strategies of our statutory documents,” said Mountain View County Reeve Angela Aalbers. “Council has designed that area as an economic growth opportunity, so I think that the Noble Business Park does fall in line with that strategy.
“We do look forward to that development coming forward, granted that it still has to go through the municipal planning commission (approving authority) and the permit stage.”
The redesignation approval came by way of motions during the Dec. 14 council meeting, held in person and zoom.
The subject property is located in the rural community of Netook immediately west of Highway 2 on Highway 27, at NW 35-32-1-W5.
Phase 1 proposes the redesignation of 66 acres to subdivision 11 lots of which 10 industrial/commercial lots will range in size between four 4.02 acres and 16.54 acres, and one public utility lot (PUL) of 6.45 per cent, council heard.
Phase 1 also includes infrastructure in support of the development, one stormwater pond to be developed on the PUL and an internal road that connects to and expands on Rge. Rd. 11.
All the infrastructure improvement, road improvements and upgrades as well as stormwater pond, will be at the expense of the developer and form part of a subdivision condition that will require a development agreement.
Regarding access, the park will be accessed off Highway 27 via an internal industrial/commercial subdivision road (Rge. Rd. 11) that currently provides access to Netook Crossing Business Park.
Regarding water and wastewater, each of the 10 lots are proposed to be serviced by individual water wells and private sanitary sewage systems; and will be the responsibility of the individual lot owners.
Regarding stormwater, the 11th lot is proposed as a public utility lot and is the first of two stormwater retention ponds.
Regarding water supply for fire suppression, the stormwater pond in Phase 1 will be available as a water supply for firefighting. Each lot at the development permit stage will be required to provide fire suppression in accordance with the Fire and Building Codes.
Regarding utilities, each lot will be serviced with natural gas, power, and telecommunications; power and telecommunications will be provided via overhead lines.
As part of the redesignation process, a proposed concept plan was submitted and accepted by council through motion.
“The intent of this business park is to complement by extension the existing Netook Crossing Business Park,” chief administrative officer Jeff Holmes said in a briefing note to council. “It is expected that upon completion of the final phase (Phase 3) the business park will result in approximately 24 industrial/commercial loss (124.88 acres); approximately 15.75 acres in internal road network and approximately 13.20 cars of stormier facilities (two wet ponds).”
County administration was in support of the application for Phase 1 redesignation and subdivisions as well as the concept plan as the municipal development plan supports business development such as the proposal, he said.
Applicant Brian Murray, a planner with B&A Planning Group, spoke at the Dec. 14 council meeting about the business park plan.
“The business park contributes to a number of positive elements,” said Murray. “(There is) a limited land supply available to the market place and Noble Business Park can help alleviate that,” said Murray.
“The additional commercial/industrial growth will help increase and diversify the assessment base for Mountain View County, increase employment opportunity, both in the short term through job creation through construction and long-term through full-time equivalents.”
The Noble Business Park concept plan is available for viewing on the county’s website.
