Ratepayers fight sale of reserve lots

Sale intended to raise funds for school land

By Laurel Nadon
Staff Reporter

Loss of open spaces and decreased property values were cited by about 75 people as to why 25 municipal reserve parcels in the MD of Foothills should not be sold.
The ratepayers packed the council chamber last Thursday at a public hearing for the removal of the municipal reserve designation on the parcels.
The lot sales are intended to raise funds for the Red Deer Lake School, Heritage Heights School and Holy Trinity Academy. The lots, mainly in Division Six in the northeast corner of the MD, range in size from two to 10 acres.
“Council had to view how we would fund the expenditures that the MD would have to incur for the schools to be built in the rural area,” said MD municipal manager Harry Riva Cambrin. “We’re looking at generating $2 million.”
The MD currently has more than 80 municipal reserve parcels and Riva Cambrin said the 25 were chosen because they’re in the area where the money will be spent.
In the past, council has appointed a central broker who selects various real estate agencies to list the parcels for sale.
Resident Jamie Davis said the municipal reserve near her home, located 1.5 miles west of Okotoks was part of the reason why they bought there.
“It adds aesthetic value to our lifestyle and home and enhances the country living feeling,” Davis said, noting that her children play on the reserve land.
Tom Donnelly, who lives adjacent to a parcel 5.5 miles east of the Okotoks overpass, brought a letter signed by 13 area landowners.
“It seems like what was really important a couple of years ago isn’t important now,” Donnelly said.
“If it’s a money issue, it seems to me you could just raise the taxes. There’s got to be better ways to raise money than directly impacting so many people in the MD.”
He also asked if an adjacent landowner would have a competitive advantage in purchasing the land.
Val Ambrose said her understanding is that when Heritage Heights School was built, most of the funds came from the provincial government. Riva Cambrin responded that the province only covers the building and within a few feet of the building.
“All site costs and servicing, they expect the MD to cover,” Riva Cambrin said, noting that this is usually done by the developer within towns. “If we don’t supply those dollars, then schools will only be built within towns and not in the rural area.”
Developer Wayne Berglund said he feels council is premature in selling the parcel located 6.5 miles east of the Okotoks overpass.
“I definitely didn’t donate the land with the intent of the municipality selling the land, but so that there would be a decent park system,” Berglund said. “A lot of people bought there with that in mind. To put it bluntly, we think you paid too much for Red Deer Lake (School).”
Mike Parsons said the MD had assured him that land near his home, located 6.5 miles east of the Okotoks overpass, would be utilized by everyone for recreation. He’s concerned development there will take away his view.
“If it’s going to be sold, I want to know so I can get the heck out before you drop the value of my house,” Parsons said. “It will destroy my view and decrease the property value on my home.”
Parsons has lived on the 24 acres for the past 20 years.
Dennis Fairbairn said he purchased land near one of the parcels six miles east of Highway 2A only six months ago.
“We feel a little cheated. If it ends up being developed, it’s going to affect our land value and the quality of our subdivision,” Fairbairn said. “If we had known that was going to happen in such a short amount of time, I personally wouldn’t have bought there.”
Don Tuttle said he purchased his land seven years ago and was led to believe that the reserve land was going to be green space for a long time to come.
Resident and developer Steve Hanhart expressed concern that there wasn’t public consultation before the hearing.
Barry Klassen, who lives near the new Red Deer Lake School site, told the residents that they were lucky to have the chance to voice their concerns as he didn’t. He said that while they may have one home built near them, he’s going to have an entire school built across from his home.
“The value of my property I see going right down the tube. We’ve really had no public input whatsoever,” Klassen said, adding that the land has environmental concerns, with one-third of the land having drainage issues. “I’m not sure you’re willing to give up your municipal reserve to buy that kind of land.”
After the public hearing closed, Riva Cambrin suggested having administration compile concerns for each parcel which council can then consider at a later meeting.
“I thought the turnout was good and maybe a little stronger than expected,” Riva Cambrin said. “The concerns that were expressed were anticipated.”
He noted that the purpose of the hearing was to learn about residents’ views and hear concerns. He said council will look at the nature of the concerns and not the number of concerns when deciding what lots will be put up for sale.
Councillor Pat Stier said,“People aren’t used to these processes so they get worked up.”
Councillor Ralph Nelson asked about the process for neighbours to have first right of refusal.
“We can’t give anybody the right to first right of refusal,” Riva Cambrin said, adding that they could notify interested landowners when the land is up for sale.
Councillor Ron Laycraft asked how soon they need the money.
“Even if we put five on the market, that would be the maximum for one time,” Laycraft said.
Riva Cambrin said that it would be best if the parcels could be sold by the end of 2006 as that’s when monies will be due for the schools.
He also said he doesn’t expect to put all the parcels up for sale, but that selling 10 to 15 parcels would be enough to raise the $2 million.
Councillor Terry Waddock asked about the possibility of building envelopes on the parcels. Riva Cambrin said council could restrict where a home could be built on the land, and what kind of home it could be including height specifications.
He also noted that the MD doesn’t usually inform residents of what can be done with reserve land.
“It’s something we’re going to take a look at,” Riva Cambrin said. “We never gave them the information that it would be green space.”
Councillor Ted Mills noted that he sees about 11 parcels on the list over which people had minimal concerns.
Council then decided to continue their discussion of the parcels at its next regular meeting on Oct. 6.
The last time the MD put a large number of parcels up for sale was in the late ‘70s when $600,000 was needed for the Red Deer Lake Hall.