The North Ridge development could see a phase two build-out north of Villeneuve Road if an area structure plan amendment is passed.
A public consultation meeting was held at the Best Western on Wednesday, giving residents an opportunity to ask questions and give feedback on the amendment, which would extend the North Ridge neighbourhood boundaries north.
Strata Developments and their consultants, Select Engineering Consultants, had concept drawings of the proposed residential neighbourhood, adding about 36 hectares to North Ridge.
“There is a demand to develop this land,” said Greg MacKenzie of Select Engineering during the formal presentation. Right now, the area structure plan amendment hasn’t even been submitted to the city – it’s still in its preliminary stages. MacKenzie said the hope is to submit the amendment application sometime later in September, then follow through the other steps throughout the fall and winter, with the hope building could start sometime in 2014.
In its preliminary stages, the proposal for the development is to have mostly low density residential housing with some multi-family. Fowler Way would be the main arterial through the new phase if everything goes ahead as proposed.
The draft concept plan shows some parks and open space throughout the development, as well as two storm water management ponds.
Only three questions were addressed during the formal presentation. One expressed concerns about traffic along Villeneuve Road, another suggested measures for ease of school bus access be considered while another worried about whether or not any of the park spaces could be school sites, concerned for another potential Erin Ridge school site situation.
Courtney Jensen, a senior project manager for Strata Developments, said the pre-submission public consultation is the time when developers are most able to make changes to their plans. She said the weight given to public input depends on the comments. The plan is still at a preliminary point, she emphasized.
Lenore Mitchell, a senior planner with the City of St. Albert, said the comments brought forward during the session gave “food for thought.”
She said it was good to see the developer proposing some smaller homes that would likely be more affordable than some other homes in St. Albert, noting it’s always good to have a mix of housing types and prices available in the city.
Mitchell said it appears Strata Developments is endeavouring to make sure the second phase would flow well with the already built-out part of North Ridge.
“They’re trying to do a really good fit with the neighbourhood,” Mitchell said.
