Council approved a subdivision application to start the first phase of a four-phase development, which will include a Walmart warehouse located in the Wagon Wheel business district in East Balzac.
The total project area is about 155 acres and will include six commercial/industrial lots, municipal reserve lots and a public utility lot.
Area councillor Lois Habberfield first suggested tabling the item, wanting clarification on issues of wastewater and roads.
“I don’t think we can resolve these issues today,” she said.
On March 5, council rescinded its wastewater off-site levy bylaw.
A new cost-recovery bylaw is expected to come to council sometime this month.
Council discussed tabling the item until a new cost structure is in place for the development.
Ron Kellem, who spoke on behalf of the applicant, said the company has been waiting since Jan. 22 to come before council but the meetings keep getting bumped. He also said they would like to get construction started “before Christmas” and asked council to consider approving the first phase of the development so things could get started.
“(Walmart is) sort of on a month-to-month (lease) right now,” said Kellem, explaining the company is looking to move from Calgary.
“They can come here, and want to, or they can start a new lease, which would probably be for five years,” he said.
He added the amount of waste produced at the site is expected to be eight cubic metres a day.
“I asked when this was proposed if there was anything that would be held up,” said Habberfield, adding she was under the impression from staff when council rescinded the bylaw last month that there wouldn’t be any subdivisions coming to council that would need a wastewater levy in place
She suggested approving phase one of the development. The applicant would use the rescinded bylaw rates to pay for the wastewater levy.
“I am trying to be fair to the people caught in between the system,” Habberfield said.
The second, third and fourth phase will come before council within 60 days, at which time council expects the new wastewater levy to be in place.
