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County development down in 2009 during economic downturn

Building and development in the County of Stettler in 2009 totaled $12.9 million, down from $13,674,130 in 2008 and $20,471,705 in 2007.

Building and development in the County of Stettler in 2009 totaled $12.9 million, down from $13,674,130 in 2008 and $20,471,705 in 2007.

“We didn’t see too much of a decline in starts of new homes, down three units from the previous year” said Johan van der Bank, director of planning and development.

“We saw fewer subdivisions develop last year than in 2007.”

For residential activity last year, the county recorded $10,152,408 in building permits, which included 37 new homes, down from $12,519,872 and 40 new homes in 2008.

Of other building permits, infrastructure totaled $2.5 million, sum of commercial and industrial was $230,000 and institutional was $100,000.

Major infrastructure projects included construction of a waterline under Shirley McClellan Regional Waster Services Commission at $2 million and an upgrade to the Town of Stettler water treatment plant valued at $323,044.

Under commercial and industrial, the major projects included new business buildings.

For institutional, the total figure was for expansion for Gadsby Hutterite Colony.

On the horizon for this year, van der Bank projects many opportunities for commercial and residential development.

“While the economy seems to be lagging, we’ll see how it goes to the end of this year,” he said.

He expects to see much activity with highway commercial development along Highway 12 east of the Town of Stettler.

“Expect to see these constructed this year,” said van der Bank.

Plenty or residential lots are available to develop in Buffalo Sands, Scenic Sands, Buffalo Lake Estates, Buffalo Lake Meadows and Rochon Sands Estates.