Country residential development slated for Rocky View County

Posted by on Friday, September 30th, 2016 at 9:08pm.

A huge residential community could be built between the Town of Cochrane and the Bearspaw District, adding another 14,000 people to Rocky View County.

The plan was presented this week to Cochrane councillors and while no one seemed thrilled at the idea, some were in agreement because that Glenbow Ranch development would ensure that the City of Calgary wouldn’t built high rise buildings next to the town.

The lesser of two evils in some way.  Keep the big city at bay by building in between.

The new community would be built on the south side of Highway 1A on the east side of Cochrane stretching out towards Glenbow Ranch Provincial Park.  As it stands, the centre of the community would have some density with single-family structures on the east side closer to Calgary city limits.  Much of the space in the development would be set aside to ensure the conservation of natural topography such as wetlands, grasslands and coulees.

Currently there is provision for schools in the Glenbow Ranch development.  Land for three schools for students in Kindergarten to Grade 8 is provided in the area development plan.  Water treatment will be the responsibility of the county and wastewater will flow through the Watermark facility in Bearspaw.  This wastewater treatment plant can handle up to 1,600 people. So far provisions for recreation facilities or even for law enforcement have not been laid out in the area structure plan for the community.

A traffic study for the highway will need to be finished up by Alberta Transportation.  That many new people on the road west out of Calgary will have an impact on vehicular volume.  It’s expected that Highway 1A would need to be widened to six and eight lanes along with traffic lights to accommodate Cochrane residents who commute to Calgary.

The Town of Cochrane shared many concerns with Rocky View County.  One concern is the adverse effect on both Calgary and the town and nothing should be decided until the Growth Management Board is fully functional in Calgary.  Councillors want to also make sure there is a Master Cost Sharing Agreement signed and sealed for all the services that residents in this new community will require.

This potential growth comes on the heals of Cochrane’s plans to move outward, adding 1,100 residents in Cochrane North.  Another development firm, Urban Star, is looking at housing a further 4,000 residents in a new community north of Highway 1A.

One of the only things Cochrane town council seemed to like about the proposal is the fact developers want to maintain a “country feel” to the community.  But some are not pleased that Rocky View County would pony up the money required for all manner of new services when it wouldn’t spring for a new swimming pool.

Developers are working on a final draft for Glenbow Ranch which should be finished up by the end of 2016.  It will be presented to the Rocky View Council early in 2017.

Leave a Comment