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News of the Red Deer Region
snippets and
summaries of news reports from local media
(primarily Red Deer Advocate and Red Deer Express).
August 2007 Part
1
August 15, 2007
Another Sylvan Lake Development
Proposed
A 19-lot residential subdivision is being planned for the summer village
of Jarvis Bay on the northeast side of Sylvan Lake. This is the latest
of several proposals along the shore. New developments on the lake have
to be more environmentally sensitive than older developments but area
residents still have some concerns about the effect of more housing on
the ecosystem of the lake.
Board Game Teaches Water Preservation
A new board game has been developed for children to teach about the
Saskatchewan River Basin, the impacts of growth on the river system and
water preservation. The waterways within the basin include the Red Deer,
Bow, Oldman and North and South Saskatchewan Rivers. The game called
Moopher's Incredible Journey to the Sea involves following a fictional
gopher on his journey from the Rocky Mountains to Hudson Bay. It is
available free of charge from the Red Deer River Watershed Alliance
office.
Home Sales and Prices Decline in Area
The Red Deer and District Real Estate Board Co-op reports that 447 area
homes were sold through the Multiple Listing service in July of which
180 were in the city and 267 elsewhere in Central Alberta. In June
residential sales totalled 560 and in July 2006 there were 479. However
for the seven months year to date, 1,516 sales occurred compared to
1,187 for the same period last year. The median sale price was slightly
lower in July than in June but was still much higher than a year ago.
The recent trend indicates more balance in the housing market.
August 14, 2007
Deal Preserves Most of Bower
Natural
Area
Red Deer city council reluctantly approved a compromise deal yesterday
that will preserve 17 of 21 acres of the Bower Natural Area south of Red
Deer College and west of Taylor Drive. Council chambers were packed at
the public meeting prior to the decision with most residents hoping
council could find a way to preserve the entire area. The city will
spend $2.2 million to buy just over 12 acres from the Bower family.
Another 2.8 acres will be purchased for $1 and another 2 acres will be
acquired out of municipal reserve that developers must provide. Qualico
Developments is purchasing the remainder of the 90-acre Bower land for a
large commercial and residential project. The deal is considered the
best that could be achieved and is significantly better than the offer
to sell 9.5 acres to the city a month ago. The area has been a favourite
for naturalists and hikers for several years with permission of the
Bower family.
Truck Stop Plans Expansion with Long Term Lease
Grumpy's 24-hour truck stop and restaurant on Highway QE2 near Lacombe
has secured a long-term renewable lease with Alberta Infrastructure and
Transportation who recently purchased the property. The truck stop plans
to double the capacity of its 52-seat restaurant, add more washrooms, a
store and more parking. The business reports that it has met the
standard for a freeway rest stop.
August 13, 2007
Cheese-Maker Can Expand After Appeal
Award-winning Sylvan Star cheese-maker Lac La Nonne Dairy near Sylvan
Lake has won an appeal on their expansion plans. Red Deer County's
subdivision and development appeal board granted development approval
for a 28,900 sq. ft. plant in spite of some opposition from area
residents. The County's municipal planning commission had turned down
the proposal on June 19. The company can now use all the milk produced
on the farm to process it into cheese. Once the new plant is operating,
the existing plant will stop production.
August 11, 2007
Repairs Continue One Year After
Storm
Some residents in Springbrook, Markerville and Spruce View are still
waiting to get repairs done one year after a severe hail storm ripped
through those communities. On August 10, 2006, winds gusting as high as
150 km/hr and golf ball sized hail did millions of dollars of damage in
the three hamlets and farms in between. There were trees and power lines
down in some areas but fortunately no serious injuries. The biggest
problem has been getting skilled labour to repair windows, roofs and
siding. Most of the work has finally been completed but there are still
a few places still waiting. The upside of the storm is that the repaired
houses have been rejuvenated and most look like new.
August 10, 2007
Report Suggests
High Speed Rail Viable
A government report, set to be released later in the month, apparently
suggests that a multi-billion dollar high speed rail line between
Calgary and Edmonton with a stop in Red Deer is economically viable. The
300-kim trip from downtown Calgary to downtown Edmonton would take 84
minutes and cost $130 for a round trip. The province recently purchased
land for a possible terminal in each of the two major cities.
Truck Stop Purchased by Alberta Transportation
Alberta Infrastructure and Transportation has purchased Grumpy's Truck
Stop and Wolf Creek Inn on Highway QE2 near Lacombe as part of a program
to control access along the highway which will eventually become an
uninterrupted freeway. The properties have been leased back to the
businesses for the foreseeable future.
Slight Decline in Red Deer Housing Starts
Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation reports that housing starts in
Red Deer were down slightly in July compared to June and July 2006.
There were 122 housing starts last month consisting of 95 single family
and 27 multi-family units. In June there were 129 single family and 12
multi-family unit starts for a total of 141. In July 2006, there were
109 single family and 37 multi-family unit starts for a total of 146.
Year to date starts however are still above the same period last year.
By the end of July there had been 995 housing starts compared to 801 for
the same period in 2006.
Sylvan Lake Infill Housing Could Add 1,000 Units
A developer is proposing an infill project on two sides of the Hewlett
Park subdivision in Sylvan Lake that would add more than 1,000 housing
units on 57 acres within easy walking distance of the lake. About 40%
would be townhouse units and 30% narrow lot single family units. The
denser housing would require an amendment to the area outline plan. The
proposal also includes 3 acres of neighbourhood commercial, a 4-season
park and trails.
August 9, 2007
City Outlines West Industrial
Development Plan
The city of Red Deer revealed to the public yesterday its plan for two
quarter sections of city-owned land of eight that are currently in the
process of being annexed west of Highway QE2. The industrial area to be
developed first is Queens Business Park directly north of the Burnt Lake
Industrial Park and directly west of the highway. It is also located
within the current Red Deer County Burnt Lake Area Structure Plan. The
area south of the eight quarter sections is expected to be annexed
within the next 10 years.
East Communities Propose Water Transfer
Two water commissions are looking to transfer water from the Red Deer
River near Stettler to communities in the Battle River basin. The
Shirley McClellan Regional Water Services Commission wants to supply
water to communities along Highway 12 from Stettler to Consort. The
12/21 commission wants to provide water to communities along Highway 21
north of Alix, including Mirror, Bashaw and Ferintosh. Together the new
projects would draw 7.8 million cubic metres of water per year from the
Red Deer River via the Town of Stettler's water treatment plant. Public
meetings are being held to get public input on the proposals.
Application Made to Renew Bowden Refinery License
Parkland Income Fund is applying to Alberta Environment to renew the
license for the currently closed Bowden Refinery along Highway QE2 in
order to maintain its option to reopen the facility in the future. The
plant was closed in 2001, two years after a deal was made to sell it to
the Blood Tribe of Standoff. That deal never materialized although it is
still a possibility. Parkland has been upgrading the facility in
preparation for a possible reopening. It was purchased from Shell in
1987.
August 7, 2007
Stettler Train Runs Special for
Rail
Fans
Alberta Prairie Railway Steam Excursions, in conjunction with the Rocky
Mountain Rail Society, held their annual rail fan special on Monday.
About 300 people boarded 1920-era steam locomotive 41 in Stettler in the
morning for the trip to Big Valley where there were several
opportunities to photograph the vintage equipment in action. The trip
back to Stettler was headed by the larger 1944-built steam locomotive
6060.
Historic Red Deer Hotel Closes
The historic Buffalo Hotel in downtown Red Deer has closed its doors as
a hotel and tavern. It was one of four downtown hotels built in the
1890's close to the railway station. Built in 1892 as the Alberta Hotel,
it was partially demolished and rebuilt in 1939. The coffee shop was
added in 1959 and renovated in 1965. The new owners plan to use the 43
rooms as affordable housing with the tavern to be converted to a place
of worship. The huge buffalo head in the former tavern may be moved to
the Red Deer Museum.
August 4, 2007
Young Adults Make Up Largest City
Demographic
According to the latest city census, those between age 20 and 29 make up
the largest 10-year population segment at 17.5%. Province-wide, young
adults in that age group make up only 14.9%. The largest segment in
Alberta is in the 40-49 age group at 16.5% whereas in Red Deer only
13.5% are in their forties. The median age in Red Deer is 33 compared to
39.5 in Canada. There is also a shift in gender in that there are now
more males than females compared to the opposite in 2004. The second
most common language is now Spanish. There are 19,263 single family
homes, 7,438 apartment units (mostly located downtown or south hill),
3,447 townhouse units, 2,803 duplexes and 1,097 manufactured homes.
Delburne Annexation Officially Approved
Alberta Municipal Affairs and Housing has officially approved the
annexation of 480 acres from Red Deer County to the Village of Delburne.
One third of the land will be used for highway commercial with the
balance to be used for industrial use, 400 residential lots, acreages
and an extension to the Fawn Meadows Golf and Country Club.
August 3, 2007
Three Objections Filed Against Proposed
Biofuel Plant
Alberta Environment reports that there have been three objections to the
$400 million biofuel refinery proposed for north of Innisfail by Alberta
Ethanol and Biodiesel GP Ltd. The plant would produce up to 379 million
litres of ethanol and an equal volume of biodiesel annually. The complex
would include a canola seed crushing plant. Processing the application,
which includes having the company respond to the objections, will likely
take another month. Once work begins, the plant is expected to take 18
months to construct.
City Hostel Concept Ready for Next Step
A feasibility study suggests that there is sufficient support in Red
Deer to proceed to the next step of forming a committee to secure
funding and location for a hostel that could accommodate about 50
people. At least 50% of the beds would be used for tourism, the hostel's
primary objective, with the balance for transitional housing for people
who are working and need time to save money for a place to live. The
study suggests that the facility should be located downtown in an
existing building close to public transportation.
Buffalo Lake Shore Management Plan Revealed
A year after people who live, farm or vacation shared their ideas about
creating a management plan for the public areas around Buffalo Lake, the
Buffalo Lake Integrated Shoreland Management Plan has been revealed by
the consultants. The primary areas of concern were public access to the
lake as well as preserving the health of the lake and the wildlife it
supports. A public open house will be held in Erskine on Saturday,
August 25 from 10 am to 5 pm.
August 2, 2007
Major City Projects Blast Building Records
Only seven months into the year and the city of Red Deer has already
surpassed last year's record total building permit values. With $292
million worth of permits issued to the end of July, the city blasted by
last year's 12-month total of $283 million. The Red Deer College
expansion generated $42 million in permits last month and the city's
civic yard relocation generated an additional $38 million in permits.
Prior to July, other major projects added to the total including the
first phase of the civic yard relocation at $31 million, the RCMP north
station at $7 million, the Sears store at Bower Mall at $6 million,
community health centre at $6 million and earlier work on the college
expansion at $6 million. Other large projects are expected prior to the
end of the year including the $16 million Michener seniors complex and
the $30 million downtown office tower. Aside from industrial and public
permits that created the bulk of the increased value, residential
permits held its own, $23 million ahead of last year to the end of June
at $125 million.
Red Deer College Explores Residential Expansion
By 2010 Red Deer College hopes to have 160 more students living on
campus. The college is looking for a private partner for the $16-$18
million residential expansion project which would be designed to further
expand to accommodate 350 students by 2015. Currently there are 576
student residences on campus.
August 1, 2007
July the Most Sizzling on Record
The average maximum temperature during the month of July in Red Deer was
26.2 C, breaking the previous record set in 1941 of 26.1 C. This was
about 4 degrees higher than the historical average temperature for July.
Six days registered above 30 degrees but no daily records were broken.
The hottest day was July 23 at 31.5 degrees. Total precipitation was
60.2 mm.
Innisfail Plans to Annex 1,600 Acres
A deal has been reached with Red Deer County paving the way for the town
of Innisfail to annex 10 quarter sections of land to the north and west
of the current boundaries, primarily for residential and industrial
development. It is expected to be about a 50 year supply of land that
could accommodate as many as 10,000 new homes. The spring municipal
census showed a 3.4% increase in population over last year coming in at
7,691. It is hoped that the Municipal Government Board will approve the
annexation for January 1.
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