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City takes first step toward historic label for spruce forest

St. Albert took the first step toward designating the white spruce forest a municipal historic resource Monday by formally agreeing to notify the property owner of this intention.
City council has taken steps to declare the white spruce forest near the future Timberlea neighbourhood a municipal historic resource.
City council has taken steps to declare the white spruce forest near the future Timberlea neighbourhood a municipal historic resource.

St. Albert took the first step toward designating the white spruce forest a municipal historic resource Monday by formally agreeing to notify the property owner of this intention.

This notification will be a simple manoeuvre given that the city itself owns the land, but it’s a technical step that’s required to start the process, said city manager Bill Holtby.

The designation will restrict the destruction, disturbance or alteration of the land for as long as it carries the designation.

The next step toward formalizing the designation is to clarify the defining elements of the site and determine how they can best be maintained. Administration will then bring a bylaw to council for approval.

“I’m quite excited about this whole area becoming part of the Red Willow Urban Park,” said Coun. Wes Brodhead before council unanimously endorsed the plan.

The city intends to make the land part of the Red Willow Park system, which will likely mean proposals to improve non-vehicular access, says a city background report.

“A total restriction on alterations to the area is not practicable,” the report states.

The forest is a natural area that has escaped fire and logging for more than 170 years, the city believes. Today it’s one of the last known spruce forests of any significance within a North American municipality and it’s one of the last natural features that predates St. Albert’s settlement.

The land is located east of Ray Gibbon Drive and next to the Sturgeon River. The city announced in late November that it had acquired the land from Genstar Development Company.

City officials said in the fall that the city has long had an interest in preserving the forest, which has been threatened by development and vandalism, but couldn’t do much because the trees were on private land.

The city has a number of historic sites but most are buildings, such as St. Albert Place, the grain elevators and the Little White School, Holtby said.

The road allowance for Hogan Road bisects the land so the city may want to look at some form of permanent closure, said Mayor Nolan Crouse.

Council also passed a motion to create an ad hoc committee of local experts to advise administration on the white spruce forest.

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