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News of the Red Deer Region
snippets and
summaries of news from local resources including media, press releases
and personal knowledge
May 2009 Part
1
May 15, 2009
2A Corridor Plan Approval Delayed Again
The controversial Highway 2A corridor development plan between the towns
of Blackfalds and Lacombe is delayed again due to a proposed significant
change since the last public hearing. The proposed amendment would allow
landowners west of Highway 2A to subdivide their property into parcels
as small as six acres rather than the original 12 acres without
requiring urban-style communal water and sewer services. For more than a
year, Lacombe County has proposed several major changes to the original
plan to balance the future needs of both the municipalities and the
rural landowners.
Proposed Gull Lake RV Resort Gets Boost
Lacombe County council has decided that the proposed Sandy Point RV
Resort project fits within the scope of the residential designation as
outlined in the Gull Lake Management Plan which provides broad
development guidelines to municipalities around the lake. The proposal
would ultimately include 1,500 lots and a 27-hole golf course that would
be phased in over the next 20 years. It is expected to take several
years before all the plans are completed and various approvals achieved.
Plasco Plant Still on Track Despite Layoffs
Plasco company officials are indicating that the temporary layoff of 57
engineers for 13 months will not have an impact on the schedule for
construction of the $90 million garbage gasification plant east of
Penhold. The 200-tonne-a-day plant is still set to be operational in the
summer of 2010.
May 14, 2009
Sylvan Lake Moves to Protect
Park System
The town of Sylvan Lake has passed a Parks and Open Spaces bylaw that
puts regulations in place to preserve parks from damage, protect
pedestrians and provide penalties for those who break the rules. The
bylaw includes regulations for campfires, public gatherings, wildlife
protection and public property damage including damage to trees. It also
prohibits the sale of foods, refreshments or other goods or services in
town parks. Many activities will require a permit including special
events, public gatherings after 11 pm and driving vehicles on park land.
Proposals Sought for New City Business
Park
The city of Red Deer is seeking proposals for lots in the
newly-developed Queens Business Park immediately west of Highway 2 and
the Edgar Industrial Park. A high standard of development is being
sought as many lots face the busy Calgary-Edmonton highway. The park
includes 120 acres of industrial land ranging in size from 1 to 50 acres
and 5 acres of commercial land.
Some Sylvan Lake Residents to Pay Less
Tax
Sylvan Lake town council has reduced property tax rates that will result
in some landowners paying less tax this year, especially if their
property assessments remained stable or went down over the past year.
However, property owners who have had an increase in the value of their
properties, especially along the lakefront, will see an increase as high
as 8%. Defying the provincial trend, many properties in the town
maintained or increased their value over the past year. In December,
town council passed a $25 million operational budget and a $13.4 million
capital budget.
May 13, 2009
Tourism Committee Expands Campaign
The Central Alberta Tourism Committee, consisting of representatives
from the municipalities of Red Deer, Red Deer County, Innisfail,
Lacombe, Ponoka, Rocky Mountain House, Stettler, Sylvan Lake, Rimbey and
Wetaskiwin, is expanding their successful Alberta Sweet 16 campaign, now
in its second year. This year, the committee has purchased ads in
Google, Facebook and various print supplements around the province with
the aim of keeping more Central Albertans in the area and attracting
more people from Calgary and Edmonton. In addition, 25,000 postcards
will be distributed at various tourism sites around the province and a
text-messaging promotion with a cash prize will be launched. Tourism is
the fourth largest industry in Alberta.
Municipal Councils Endorse Trails Along Highways
Red Deer city council recently passed a resolution urging the province to
consider trail construction as part of the building or rebuilding of
roads and highways. The resolution will go to the AUMA (Alberta Urban
Municipalities Association) convention this fall to vote on as an
association resolution to the province. Several other Central Alberta
municipalities have passed a similar resolution, including Lacombe,
Ponoka, Penhold, Sylvan Lake and Blackfalds. The resolution recommends a
change in policy to provide for alternative modes of transportation such
as cycling, running and walking along or across highways as a means of
connecting communities during the design process. Currently, Alberta
Transportation policy only provides for the movement of vehicles in
highway right-of-ways with very rare exceptions.
May 11, 2009
Ponoka Partners for Aircraft Plant
The town of Ponoka is partnering with the cities of Wetaskiwin and Leduc
in order to attract Aeromax Loadstar to build an aircraft manufacturing
plant in the area. The company has already chosen Alberta to build a new
utility aircraft with a broad range of uses and the Ponoka area is on
the short list as a location. The proposed manufacturing plant would
initially build a flying prototype of the Aeromax with the first planes
ready for sale in four years. Eventually 144 planes would be built per
year with a thousand jobs and an economic benefit of $300 million. The
aircraft would have a 5,000 pound capacity cargo bay capable of holding
standard shipping containers.
May 9, 2009
Expansion Plans for Buffalo Lake
Campground
Ol' MacDonalds Resort on Buffalo Lake has applied to Stettler County to
rezone 40 acres of agricultural land to add 150-200 full-service
campsites to the popular destination. The 40-acre resort near Rochon
Sands opened in 1985 and three years ago, added 91 full-service sites
with help from a pipeline company looking for a seasonal camp for its
workers. Last fall, another 37 unserviced camping spots were added and
are expected to open in June. Ol' MacDonalds has playgrounds, a
restaurant, shops, arcade, mini-golf, a petting zoo and a beach. The
waiting list for sites is over 300 so the expansion will still not fully
satisfy the demand for spots to park RVs and trailers. Second reading of
the required bylaw has already passed county council and the new sites
are expected to open in time for the 2010 season.
Decline in City Housing
Starts Better Than Others
Canada Mortgage and Housing Corp. reports that, although housing starts
in Red Deer declined 44% in April compared to the same month a year ago,
the decline is favourable compared to other Alberta cities. Medicine Hat
experienced a 88% decline, Calgary 71%, Grande Prairie 65%, Edmonton 65%
and Lethbridge 59%. In April, work started on 15 homes in Red Deer with
13 being single family and the other 2 multiple family. For the first
four months of the year, there were 63 single family starts in Red Deer
and 10 multiple family compared to 116 and 30 respectively for the same
period a year ago. The drop was also less than in other Alberta cities.
Red Deer College Gets Millions for
Improvements
The federal government's Knowledge Infrastructure Program matched by the
provincial government has provided Red Deer College with $4.5 million to
improve facilities. The former visual arts classrooms will be redone to
house new programs and offices once the visual arts program moves to the
new Centre for Visual Art in the next few months. The teaching kitchen,
currently housed in a double-wide trailer, will move into the former
sculpture studio. The old ceramics studio will become two nursing labs.
Information technology staff will move into new offices. All work is
expected to be completed this year.
Construction to Start Soon on
CollegeSide Facility
Construction will get underway soon on CollegeSide Gardens, a 103-suite
supportive living project by the Bethany Care Society next to Bethany
CollegeSide at Red Deer College. The project will have studio, one and
two bedroom suites and will provide seniors and adults will disabilities
with meals, utilities, laundry service, recreation and social programs
in order for residents to maintain their independence as long as
possible. Proximity to the college provides residents access to the
college library, arts centre and sports events. The provincial
government has provided a total $8 million in funding for the $17
million project with the recent receipt of $4.26 million from Alberta
Supportive Living Initiative.
May 8, 2009
Economic Development Video on
YouTube
Red Deer Regional Economic Development (RDRED), a strategic alliance
involving the City of Red Deer, Red Deer County, Red Deer Chamber of
Commerce and Red Deer College, has launched a promotional video on
YouTube highlighting the region's economic advantages in order to bring
investment and people to the area. The 5-1/2 minute production, titled
'Red Deer Corridor -- Broaden Your Horizons', contains images and
commentary that highlight business benefits as well as recreational and
cultural attractions.
City Officials Attend San Antonio Conference
Red Deer Mayor Morris Flewwelling, Councillors Cindy Jeffries and Lorna
Watkinson-Zimmer, Development Services director Paul Goranson and city
manager Craig Curtis recently attended the International Downtown
Association conference in San Antonio, Texas. The location had special
interest to city officials as Red Deer looks toward implementing the
ambitious Greater Downtown Action Plan and to see first hand San
Antonio's RiverWalk canal system that one group is proposing for the
downtown Riverlands redevelopment. That group is continuing to promote
the concept but city officials have been cool to the idea. The downtown
action plan recommends a series of water features but not the canals.
Red Deer Main Street Project Completed
A $2 million 8-year project that has created a more vibrant and
attractive city downtown as well as celebrating the city's heritage, is
now virtually complete. The project rehabilitated 12 major buildings,
including the Scott Block, the Farthing Block, the Buffalo Hotel,
Prairie Office Products and the Hayhoe Building, and fixed up 11 other
buildings. In addition, 49 signs and awnings and 12 plaques were
completed and 53 events were celebrated. Some of the financial support
came from the Alberta Historical Resources program. The remaining
balance of funds will be used for a legacy program that will include
creating Statements of Significance and mount appropriate signage.
May 6, 2009
Red Deer County Reveals Road Clean-up
Plan
Red Deer County is attempting to encourage residents to help clean up
the litter that accumulates along county roads with two new initiatives.
The plan includes an Adopt-a-Road program that encourages residents and
organizations to adopt a 3.2 km (2 mile) section of road and undertake a
clean-up at least four times per year. Another part of the plan is the
20 Minute Make Over that encourages citizens and businesses to spend 20
minutes cleaning up their area. Studies show that about 40% of litter
blows off the back of pickup trucks and unsecured loads while the other
60% is dropped intentionally.
Inflationary Increase for County
Taxpayers
The average taxpayer in Red Deer County will see an increase in their
taxes this year similar to the rate of inflation. Average assessments
are up 13% due to the provincial policy of properties being assessed on
July 1 of the previous year when housing prices were still relatively
high. Because assessments fluctuate from property to property, some
residents will see an increase while others may see a decrease. The
county's tax revenue at $33 million this year is $2 million above last
year.
May 5, 2009
Regional Wastewater
Treatment in Red Deer Plan
Red Deer city council has approved a $367 million plan to upgrade the
city's wastewater treatment plant to accommodate the surrounding region
for the next 25 years. Once phased upgrades are completed, wastewater
treatment lines will extend southward to Olds, northward to Lacombe and
westward to Sylvan Lake. Upgrades to the plant are already underway and
the first regional line is expected to be completed in 2011 between Red
Deer and Innisfail. In the city, the line will be built as part of the
proposed ring road system and the north highway connector. The city
would only pay for capacity improvements related to city growth. The
balance of funding would come from regional wastewater commissions and
the provincial government.
Final City Tax Increase Set at 5.5%
With the provincial education tax rate set, the blended tax increase
that Red Deer property owners can expect is an average of 5.5%. Council
had previously approved a 7.05% municipal tax increase but with the
education tax figured in, the overall average rate has been reduced.
However, depending on individual property assessments, some residents
will see a higher increase while others will see their tax increase
lower. The tax bill will include the municipal portion of about 60% that
goes to the city while the remaining 40% goes to the province.
Historic Murals Planned for Casino Exterior
Jackpot Casino is proposing to place 6 murals on its east exterior wall
along 47 Avenue onto large faux windows that would each have a historic
theme. The murals would be digitally reproduced from Red Deer Archives
photos that include city streetscapes, a steam train, threshing crew and
cowboys tending livestock. Local residents attending a recent public
meeting supported the plan. The city planning commission will review the
plan in two weeks.
May 4, 2009
Red Deer Royals Celebrate 40 Years
About 150 band alumni attended a 40th anniversary celebration of the Red
Deer Royals at Festival Hall on Saturday. This was followed on Sunday
with the Festival of Champions at the Centrium that attracted 600
musicians from throughout Alberta. The band, now consisting of 120
members up to age 21, started in 1969 as a city council initiative and
were originally known as the Red Deer Community Band. Several band
directors led the organization including the current director Rob Goring
and the late Keith Mann. The first international tour occurred in 1976
with a trip to England. Since that time, the marching band has travelled
to and performed at a variety of events including San Francisco,
Disneyland, Australia, Expo 86 in Vancouver, on an Alaskan cruise ship
and throughout Canada. Last year, the band won top prize at the Calgary
Stampede. The next major trip will be to Ireland, Germany and the
Netherlands to compete in a world band competition.
May 2, 2009
April Building Permit Total Similar to 2008
The value of Red Deer's building permits in April totaled $18.1 million,
very close to the $18.2 million issued in April 2008. More than half of
the total was for one project -- $9.8 million for the construction of
the supportive living facility by Bethany Care Society for a
three-storey building at Red Deer College connected to Bethany
CollegeSide. The value of residential building permits last month was
$6.7 million, compared to $10.3 million a year earlier. One residential
project accounted for nearly half of the April total -- $3 million for
multi-family buildings in Johnstone Landing in the city's northwest.
Commercial projects added $1.6 million to the total. This year to date,
the city has issued 388 building permits for a total value of $35.4
million, compared to a total value of $76.6 million for the same
four-month period in 2008. Residential permits so far this year account
for $16.3 million, compared to $49.6 million last year between January
and April.
New Designation Sought for 2 City Historic Sites
The city has begun the process to designate the North Cottage School and
St. Luke's Anglican Church as municipal historic resources. The two
sites had been registered historic resources by the province but that
designation no longer exists. The new designation is required to protect
them and qualify them for provincial restoration funding. The North
Cottage School was built in 1911. The St. Luke's Anglican Church started
construction in 1898 in a gothic style and used sandstone from the banks
of the Red Deer River. Other recognized historical sites in the city
include the Canadian Pacific railway station, the Canadian Pacific
railway bridge over the river and the Cronquist House near Bower Ponds.
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