Laebon plans to go ahead with the Palisades development and engineering a new route for the Waskasoo, though the province has asked for further documentation.
At a Jan. 13 meeting with Alberta Sustainable Resource Development and Laebon Homes, the Town of Penhold indicated it wants to handle the creek realignment, according to government officials.
“We had a lengthy meeting with Laebon and Alberta Environment,” said Rick Binnendyk, Penhold's Chief Administrative Officer (CAO). “If they move the creek the flood plain area does not change, it just expands it.”
Last July Laebon exhibited plans for the Palisades development south of Boundary Street to include a new route for Waskasoo Creek and a manmade wetland to serve as a stormwater management tool. At full build-out the development would add an estimated 939 residential units to the town.
At a public hearing in December residents brought questions about flooding issues in Laebon's last subdivision project, Park Place, and concerns it could happen in the Palisades development, as well as concerns about the closure of Boundary Road.
“They're not planning on updating their concept plan?” asked Coun. Chad Hoffman.
According to Binnendyk the process is still chugging along.
“When they did their outline plan they gave us two options,” he said. “Now as far as we're concerned they will be rolling into Option B unless they give us some clarity on things.”
Laebon applied under the Water Act to construct a drainage system, realign a portion of Waskasoo Creek and amend an ESRD flood hazard map to facilitate future development.
The town owns the creek in the quarter to be developed. Development would have to conform to the ESRD Flood Hazard Identification Program.
The town advised the area flood risk map must be amended by ESRD prior to any consideration of future development occurring on the land, movement of the creek or issuing of any authorizations, according to a government spokesperson.
“Our office is currently waiting for additional information to continue processing the Water Act applications,” said Nikki Booth, ESRD acting issues coordinator.
Steve Bontje, managing partner for Laebon Homes characterized the meeting as part of technicalities of building a distinctive subdivision.
“This community has a very unique feature to start with, having the Waskasoo running through it,” he said. “It's a matter of taking the unique feature we have and capitalizing on it.”
Their positive experience building up the Park Place region makes the company optimistic about working through the processes of developing Palisades.
“We have expressed an interest in moving Waskasoo Creek,” he said. "You don't just phone up Alberta Environment and say, 'Hey we want to move a creek, what do you think?'"
"We had a lengthy meeting with Laebon and Alberta Environment. If they move the creek the flood plain area does not change, it just expands it."Rick Binnendyk, Penhold CAO
