A movie theatre, arcade, casino and more housing could one day be built west of Walmart, if a proposal by a developer becomes reality.
Centcom Construction Ltd. is in negotiations to purchase a 12.57-acre site directly west of Walmart and Canadian Tire for that development and Olds town council has passed a bylaw which allows for it to occur in that area.
Before the bylaw was approved, a public hearing was held. However, no members of the public attended to speak for or against the change.
There was however a letter sent to council from Long Sky Developments Ltd., owners of the adjacent Cornerstone Olds Shopping Centre expressing concern about volume of traffic.
“While we do not necessarily object to the proposed new permitted uses themselves, nor the amendments proposed, we do have concerns about the high traffic nature of the uses, and how that might impact traffic on Highway 27 and the intersection at 67A avenue,” the letter read.
The letter went on to say that when Long Sky Developments began the development of Cornerstone in 2006 they commissioned Bunt & Associates Engineering to assess the traffic impact to determine what improvements would be required.
“We respectfully ask that the Town require the proposed developer of the DC-MU1 lands to commission a traffic impact study, or at minimum, engage Bunt & Associates Engineering for an update to the study commissioned by us,” the letter added.
While the application to amend the bylaw was passed, the applicant will still need council approval for individual facilities built there, according to Michael Merritt, the town's chief administrative officer.
“There can be development of residential or the facility they may be contemplating, but they’ll still have to get a permit through council,” he said.
