OLDS — Town officials are confident Olds will continue to grow, despite the impact that COVID-19 pandemic and low oil prices have had on the economy.
Michael Merritt, the town’s chief administrative officer, says that’s why the town has worked out a tentative agreement with Mountain View County to annex three quarter sections of land north of Highway 27 and east of Highway 2A on the northeast corner of the community.
That annexation would become reality if it receives provincial approval.
The proposed annexation is contained in an updated version of the Intermunicipal Development Plan (IDP) between the town and county, created by the the Intermunicipal Collaboration Committee (ICC).
“There is an expectation that growth will happen over the next 20 years and the Town with this IDP is ready to address that growth,” Merritt wrote in an email
“Obviously there will be years with fluctuations in the demand for growth. However they usually even out over the time period in question,” he added.
Merritt said the town’s priority is to focus on commercial and industrial development.
He said the process to annex the land began back in 2018.
In addition to planning for commercial, industrial and residential growth, the town and county, through the ICC, will continue to cooperate in areas such as fire protection, recreation, municipal enforcement and emergency management.
“Mountain View County has been a valued partner and the ICC has been successful over the years in making a relationship work for the residents of the town and the county,” Merritt wrote.
