Sundre's east side is on the cusp of finally realizing prosperity and growth with the recent multi-million dollar approval of two water and wastewater servicing projects and the resurrection of collapsed plans to construct a $10 million Best Western hotel.
“I thought for sure it (hotel) was dead,” said Ryan Thorogood, president of Totem Golf Ltd., who is spearheading the construction of the hotel. “I was told point-blank residents had said no to the (servicing) levy. It was a lot of money. If we didn't have the water and wastewater lines it was a no go.”
The bold and decisive move forward for Sundre's east side follows several weeks of uncertainty towards the town's goal of servicing properties, including residential, on the east side of the Red Deer River and creating revenue-generating commercial and industrial opportunities.
The town was forced to overhaul and ultimately jettison the contentious East Side Servicing Local Improvement Project when property owners signed a petition last spring against a proposed $24,000 residential local improvement levy, as well as a $1,329.87/front metre Local Improvement Levy for commercial/industrial properties.
The petition controversy nearly forced Thorogood to abandon his plans to build the multi-million dollar, 80-room Best Western Hotel Mountain View Inn and Suites hotel along Main Avenue in east Sundre. The 47,000 sq.-ft., three-storey project has long been envisioned to be the centrepiece for future commercial development on the east side. It will also be the first major brand name hotel development to enter the Sundre market area.
“The town has been supportive to us and have worked with us,” said Thorogood. “We have worked with them and followed all their guidelines.”
However, in order to get future development plans for the east side back on track town officials overhauled the servicing project. There is no longer a stormwater management component. The new proposal for the east side properties only targets lands on the north side of Hwy. 27, as opposed to the previous plan that covered all of east Sundre. No longer will the project be phased, and most importantly for property owners, there will not be any mandatory local improvement levy.
Instead, property owners will have the option of tying into the new water and wastewater lines. Town administration is currently working on the connection fees for property owners, which council must approve.
“We have been working diligently on a solution that will work for everyone,” said Mayor Annette Clews.
The revamped plan for the east side began to take shape in early July when town council accepted the $847,492.50 tender from High Mountain Hoe Service Ltd. to construct the 7th Street N.E. water and wastewater mainline extension project, originating from the lift station, which has been under construction since May. It will ultimately run one block along 7th Street towards Main Street, where the proposed site of the new Best Western hotel is located.
At about the same time the town's development office signed off on the development plan for the Best Western hotel. As it was a permitted use in the area the proposed project did not require the approval of the Municipal Planning Commission (MPC). In the meantime, Thorogood contributed $600,000 towards the cost of the water and wastewater lines that had been approved by council. Construction on the line is expected to start later this month and ultimately service eight property owners, including the hotel.
“It is what we needed to do to get the hotel,” said Thorogood of the $600,000 contribution to the project.
Meanwhile, town council members were expected to approve at its regular council meeting on Sept. 12 the $3.5 million east side water and wastewater project for 1st Avenue N.E. and the north portion of 7th Street N.E. The service lines from this project will tie into the first mainline extension. It will include a water supply main along 7th Street N.E. that will service a future water reservoir at the top of the hill to the east.
If this is approved by council it will use up the existing Building Canada Fund (BCF) grant money for the east side project. It will also potentially service 30 properties. Construction is scheduled to begin in the spring of next year.
“This services the most residents as we can. We think this is the best route to move forward,” said Ryan Leuzinger, the town's chief administrator officer at the April 6 governance meeting. “We hope developers come to us to tie on.”
Meanwhile, Thorogood said his company, which secured a building permit from the town on Sept. 2, is now putting out tenders for the construction of the hotel, which will include 24 suites, three conference rooms, gym and workout area, swimming pool, whirlpool and other amenities.
He is hoping for the earliest date possible for construction to begin. The project should be completed by September of next year, said Thorogood.
“We are chomping at the bit to get a hotel in there,” he said, adding the completed hotel will give the community a financial boost attracting more visitors and tourists. “There is no brand name in town right now. It is a serious draw. We did the research and feasibility studies. I believe the town needs a Best Western hotel.”
