Town council passed a series of 10 recommendations for the Chinook Meadows Area Structure Plan in the southwest section of town on August 22 following deliberation of second and third reading and a public hearing on the issue.
The plan was passed despite several objections to it voiced by The Meadows Condominium Association. Members of the association were among about 30 people who attended the event. Among the concerns raised by the 38 households represented in the association was the increased noise that would result from construction, dust and traffic flow through the development.
Ernie Johnson said residents wanted to widen the municipal reserve, which would mitigate the laneways, which he said tend to deteriorate over the years.
Johnson also asked for an extension of the trail system through the area.
Following conclusion of the public hearing portion, Coun. Mary Jane Harper said she was concerned about snow removal. She said many roads in town aren't wide enough now to accommodate snowplows and vehicles, and feared the development wouldn't adequately address that concern.
Two dumping locations for snow are proposed in the area, ranging from .08 of a hectare (half acre) to .16 of a hectare (one acre).
Coun. Debbie Bennett-Dubak also raised a concern about traffic volume in an area likely to have many small children. Jolene Tejkl, a planner with Parkland Community Planning Services that was assigned to the development, said the developer plans to put in various traffic calming devices throughout the development to ease traffic issues.
Mayor Judy Dahl said the development has gone through several different versions since work first began in early 2009.
“We've had the developer sitting with engineers and our administration, we've had the developers come and talk to the people, we've had recommendations back from staff … it's really quite fascinating to sit back and see such a unique sustainable development … and have people talking about it,” she said.
Dahl said she was most impressed with the input residents gave throughout the process.
“These people could have just sat back and done nothing, but they're engaged and that's exciting,” she said.
The plan calls for about 1,690 housing units to be added to the town in 13 phases, providing accommodation for about 3,920 people in a range of housing types. There is also provision made for a neighbourhood commercial development.
