A large subdivision at the Okotoks overpass appears to be gaining interest from Foothills and Calgary residents with little opposition.
The public was invited to a second open house for the proposed Meadows of DeWinton area structure plan March 16, where ReidBuilt Homes and Crystal Creek Homes revealed their proposed designs for houses ranging from two-storey starter and mid-range homes to senior villas and assisted-living facilities.
According to developer Bryan Fenske, the proposed 300-acre development will include 1,075 homes, with about 300 in the starter-style, 300 of the move-up homes and about 300 villas. This is a reduction from the original plan for 1,525 total homes.
“We took a lot off the plan to satisfy the neighbours,” said Fenske. “We basically took out 170 acres near the cul-de-sac in the north end, which shrinks the project by about 25 per cent.”
The move was in response to public input following the first open house, when neighbours to the north of the proposed subdivision expressed concern about their country residential homes backing onto such a dense development, he said.
The Meadows of DeWinton has a proposed density of 3.3 units per acre, falling just within the MD of Foothills’ standards of three to five units per acre in subdivisions.
To accommodate the mandate to conserve farmland, a park along the south ridge of the proposed development will see currently-cultivated land turned back to its natural state, he said. The development also includes 175 acres of open space between rows of homes, he said.
“The argument that we’re the ones chasing the deer away and the owls and everything else doesn’t hold out,” said Fenske. “As we get the chance to explain these things, we’ve found still if we have three or four opponents at this point in time then that’s what we want.”
He said there were only a couple of people who expressed concern at the March 16 open house, mostly from those who don’t want to see change in the area. Those residents were not willing to provide comment on the proposed development to the Western Wheel until a public hearing is held with the MD of Foothills.
“We’ve come to some pretty simple conclusions,” said Fenske. “There’s clearly no great opposition. Usually, in our business, we consider silence as support because opposition is rarely silent.”
He attributes the general public approval of the proposed development to the location, at Highways 2 and 2A. It meets the MD of Foothills desire to build in the central district near the highway, he said.
The development is also resonating with seniors, he said. Not wanting to leave the community and live in the area towns or cities, he said seniors have been interested in the villa and assisted-living facilities that could be offered in the MD.
“If you study a number of articles, there’s a housing crisis looming, because [senior populations] are growing at a huge rate and no developers are addressing it,” said Fenske.
Harold Snow, who currently resides in the Cranston area of Calgary, attended the open house to see what the Meadows of DeWinton had to offer. He and his wife have been looking to get out of the city and live in the MD.
“I’m mostly interested in the bungalows and the villas and the sensible prices I’ve heard compared to Artesia and some of the other places around,” said Snow. “It looks good, but time will tell, when we see what the prices really end up being.”
He’s looking for an area of lower density than the city, but higher prices of acreage properties have deterred him from other areas of the Foothills, he said. He also wants to have more of a neighbourhood feel in the country.
“I want my privacy, but I still want to have neighbours,” said Snow. “This is the best of both worlds, I think.”
Foothills resident Linda McLean and her husband live across Highway 2 from the development, east along Highway 2A. She said they were curious to see what the Meadows would look like and how it might impact things like water for surrounding communities.
She said the intent to manage all the water on-site was reassuring.
“Based on what they’re telling us it sounds fine, that it’s coming from the Bow River and that they’re going to be able to have a facility here to purify the water and then also a treatment plant for the sewage,” said McLean.
Overall, she said the plans look interesting and don’t pose much concern for her.
She said she’s pleased to see the developer intends to put traffic lights on Highway 2A at 290 Ave. and on the overpass for traffic turning eastbound onto Highway 552.
“It will be interesting having new traffic lights there, coming off the main highway and then having that light there,” said McLean. “It’s an 80-kilometre zone anyway and people a lot of times will come off and they’re travelling faster than the speed limit, so that will definitely slow them down in that regard.”
McLean said she’s also pleased to hear the development would be geared toward a wide range of residents, from young families to aging seniors.
There are no more open houses currently planned for the Meadows of DeWinton. Fenske said the proposed area structure plan is currently under review by the MD of Foothills and he hopes to have it before council in a public hearing by the end of May.
For more information on the development visit www.meadowsofdewinton.ca
