Ambitious to open up more land for industrial growth, the Town of Stettler has initiated steps to update the Northeast Industrial Area Structure Plan,
At its regular meeting last week, council supported a preferred option, which will be presented to the community for review in the coming month.
“The town has a jewel here for industrial development,” said Dave Dittrick of Zap Consulting, as he presented the options and recommended option 2.
During discussion, Coun. Steve Wildeboer was the only one who preferred another option, but voted in favour of option 2 with the rest of his colleagues.
This option is also recommended by Melissa Robbins, director of operations, and Leann Graham, planning and development officer.
Under this plan, road accesses are reduced to the ring road that makes it the least expensive to construct and provides various sizes of lots.
After an open house in the coming month to present the options, the town will proceed to prepare a draft area structure plan.
Since this original was adopted in 1980, Dittrick said the demands for lands in the area have changed significantly to review and update the plan.
Most of the ASP area is in agriculture use although the current zoning map designates the area as industrial along with the municipal development plan.
Adjacent lands within the town are generally used for industrial purposes.
The updated ASP will address components such as:
— Distribution of overall development in four stages.
— Transportation improvements including connections to existing industrial area and internal road networks.
— Water, wastewater and stormwater serving requirements.
— Location and alignment of shallow (electricity, gas, telephone).
— Short- and long-term servicing plan and phasing.
— Existing storm retention (snow dump) facility and the possible need to expand or relocate.
— Budget data for servicing of all phases and strategies for protecting natural capital.