Skip to content

County looking into changes for Highway 2A design policies

Foothills County is considering making changes to its screening and design policies for the Highway 2A corridor to better suit commercial and industrial uses.
Warner Business Park 9417 BWC
A row of bays in the Warner Business Park near the Aldersyde overpass on Jan. 16. The County is considering changes to its screening and design guidelines for the Highway 2A industrial corridor. (Brent Calver/Western Wheel)

After nearly a decade since the policies were first established, the County is reviewing its screening standards and design guidelines for Highway 2A.

Council directed administration to review its current site requirements for industrial and commercial properties along the Highway 2A corridor at its Jan. 15 meeting.

It could mean potential changes to the guidelines for business owners along the highway between Okotoks and High River. Currently, depending on the type of business on a lot the screening levels and types vary and some council members felt it was too stringent in many cases.

“We’ve got to get people away from these trees on berms and things that just don’t last, look ugly, yet they’re doing what they can to try to comply,” said Deputy Reeve Rob Siewert. “I certainly agree just a tidying up of this, making it a little easier for people in the industrial corridor, but also making it easier for them to understand what’s required.”

County planner Julie McLean said she agrees with simplifying the design guidelines, saying it’s pretty complicated as currently written with various levels of design requirements and screening levels.

Initially it was meant to address issues with RV storage lots, one-off industrial developments or home-based businesses with outdoor work or storage and their impacts on country residential properties, she said.

“It’s quite a higher level of screening they’re looking at there and I think that’s appropriate when you have a bunch of residential properties around you,” said McLean. “In the industrial area, you’re looking at an area that’s primarily industrial users so they really wouldn’t have to be held to such a high standard of screening.”

Having some higher standards is beneficial to the county, she said. If an industrial or commercial area is nicer looking it will attract business better.

Director of planning Heather Hemingway said the County has learned over time to temper its expectations in order to see success in its non-residential sector.

For one thing, screening is difficult in southern Alberta with harsh weather conditions in winter and summer. However, that doesn’t mean people shouldn’t be required to provide appropriate landscaping and develop high quality properties, she said.

“We just need to lower our expectation on the ability to screen, but I don’t think we need to lower our expectation of the applicant and the developer to develop a nice-looking building where there’s a bit of landscaping or some kind of creativity and it looks good overall,” said Hemingway.

Reeve Suzanne Oel said she appreciates the idea of having some standards in place to help attract business to the Highway 2A corridor, where the County is currently investing in water, wastewater and fibre optic connections.

“Build it and they will come,” said Oel. “I believe we will be starting to attract, so I really would like to see these standards.”

She said since applicants have to draw up development plans anyway, they should be told to build something that will help enhance the area and draw more interest to the corridor, whether industrial or commercial.

“I think we’re making an effort to spend money there, to attract and provide services, and to locate, as we were hoping, to get a lot of businesses to come in here,” said Oel. “I think a tweak on this so it’s simplified, easier to understand, but still indicates we request something from the development of these lands, would be appropriate.”

Coun. Delilah Miller said she would like to see some requirements for low-level screening along the corridor, but not necessarily by means of greenery and beautification methods.

“I would like to be a little more specific and say perhaps along the Highway 2A we go for fencing of some kind instead of trying to put trees in there,” said Miller. “They look miserable and they’re looking pretty pathetic.

“Going forward, I think that makes the most sense along that highway is some kind of fencing.”

The guidelines and standards will come back to council for review, but the timeline for any potential changes is unknown.

push icon
Be the first to read breaking stories. Enable push notifications on your device. Disable anytime.
No thanks