Is Cochrane North development a good idea?

Posted by on Friday, May 27th, 2016 at 3:46pm.

The yeas and nays were all heard during a public meeting last week at Weedon Pioneer Community Hall. The May 19th open house was held to hear concerns and answer questions about Cochrane North, a proposed residential development north of Cochrane Lakes off Highway 22.

The developer brought in a number of project specialists including those involved with the design, concept development, transportation and utilities such as wastewater and stormwater design. Those in attendance had a variety of questions and concerns about traffic, stormwater management and whether the development was necessary at all.

The Cochrane North community as presented construed would bring about 425 residential units on the north side of Cochrane Lakes, just off Highway 22 to the south of Weedon Trail.  The area is about three miles across and four miles from the north town limits to Weedon Trail.  Horse Creek Valley is on the western edge of the Cochrane North area.

Developer representatives arguing in defense of the project told attendees that the project would bring confidence back to the real estate market in the Cochrane area.

In addressing questions and concerns about traffic, there are three ways to access the new development in the current concept design.  One is from Range Road 43, another one is off Highway 22 and a further road from Monterra, Phase 2 which is a subdivision of the hamlet of Cochrane Lakes.  Improvements to the current design are welcome.

This area north of Cochrane Lakes is known to flood and the developer is still working on issues related to run-off and storm water channels.   The developer has yet to adopt solutions in association with the Town of Cochrane as well as Rocky View County.

Some locals are excited about the project.  The structure plan has room for seniors housing with a proposed independent living facility for 55-plus residents.

The plan for Cochrane North was put together nine years ago in a bid to management growth, identify environmental concerns and sketch out future development in this area that includes Cochrane Lakes. A final concept for the 425-unit area should be ready for the municipal district council in early 2017 after public consultation.  The developer would like to break ground at the end of next year or perhaps early 2018.

While not within the boundaries of the Town of Cochrane, the proposed residential area would need access to town utilities and services in accordance with the user service agreement in place with Rocky View County.  That agreement also includes use of fire, family support and recreation.

Cochrane Lake

It is interesting to note that while new residential development has occurred in this area for the past 10 years, this area was established well before this. Most of the area around the small lake was owned by Chester Ferris.  It was his dream to develop a small resort of cottages and he began a small settlement.  It began a hamlet in 1985 when it grew to become bigger than a cottage resort.  That year it was a development with 58 lots.  The larger subdivision was approved 10 years later in 1995 for 875 lots and while it’s still a hamlet, a municipal plan developed by Rocky View County was approved in 2011 to manage future growth.

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