Developers of the proposed Wind Walk development just outside Okotoks’ south boundary want to meet with the Town to resolve outstanding concerns over the proposal.

MD of Foothills council held a public hearing on the development, being lead by reality TV personality Mike Holmes, last week after a five-month break in proceedings.

In the wake of a request from the Town that the MD quash the Area Structure Plan for the development, developers said they want to work with the Town of Okotoks through the MD to address concerns.

“We understand there are still concerns for the Town of Okotoks and I believe we can work them out,” said Seth Atkins, director of Holmes Communities.

MD council did not make a decision regarding the development last week and tabled the matter until tomorrow (Feb. 18).

The development is proposed for a 145-acre parcel of land just outside Okotoks’ south border across Highway 7 from the Cornerstone area. Plans for the area call for 457 single family and multi-family homes to be built at the site, which includes a small area for commercial development.

The development includes cutting edge environmental technologies intended to reduce energy and water consumption and will feature houses designed by Mike Holmes to be at the forefront of energy efficient building techniques.

Last week, Okotoks town council asked the ASP be quashed so the two municipalities can discuss how development could proceed under the new Joint Planning Agreement (JPA) between the Okotoks and the MD. The Town also wants the MD to ask developers to hold off on the development until changes are made to the existing intermunicipal development plan.

Central to the issue is that the recently signed JPA calls for joint plans for four joint development areas on the Okotoks boundaries – one of which includes the Wind Walk development. As well, under the JPA, amendments to the intermunicipal development plan are to be completed by 2011.

Drew Atkins, with landowner OKO Properties, asked council to approve the ASP.

He said the project should be able to proceed because the ASP application was submitted and the public hearing was initiated before the JPA was signed.

Okotoks municipal planner Steve Hanhart said, if there were any discussions there would “have to be compromises on all sides.”

While the Town has agreed to provide waste water services to the Sandstone Springs development, and is willing to do the same for the Gold Medal commercial development at the Country Living Store, he said it would be a more difficult prospect because the Wind Walk development is much bigger than the other two.

MD Coun. Ralph Nelson said one problem, to date, is that the MD wasn’t able to discuss the matter with the Town because the hearing was still ongoing.

Water concerns raised

MD council faced a full house at the hearing last week, with the majority of those who spoke out against the project concerned there won’t be enough water to service the 457-unit development.

Dan Robson, area landowner, is concerned the groundwater wells planned for the development won’t be enough for the people who will come to call the area home.

“The idea as a neighbourhood is a good idea, but it should be where the resources are to support the neighbourhood,” he said.

He also said the development amounts to a “town beside a town” and Wind Walk residents would be putting more pressure on Okotoks services.

Drew Atkins said they knew that water would be a concern when they started planning the development and they have attempted to address the concerns.

“We knew water was going to be an issue. Everyone who lives in this area, including myself, knows water is an issue,” he said.

Allan Mar, board member for Alberta Foothills Properties, said residents in the area won’t be left without water.

“We are committed to ensuring the security of water supply,” he said.

The development plans call for a highly efficient water system, using storm water retention ponds to recharge the water aquifer and systems that would recycle used water.

The system’s design is based on a target of 289 litres – or 76.3 gallons – per person, per day.  The Town of Okotoks’ consumption target is 70 gallons per person per day.

Mar said they are also looking to buy water licences and would be willing to enter into a P3 partnership to construct a water line from Aldersyde, if needed.

“We have sufficient water, but we’re prepared to do this as part of our commitment to ensuring a sufficient water supply,” he said.

Ultimately, he said they are trying to create a model for sustainable development.

“We have an opportunity to do things that have never been done before,” he said.

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