Plans are underway for a Bearspaw Emergency Services facility.
Rocky View County council directed staff, Jan. 10, to begin the formal application process and community consultations for the proposed site of the firehall, located south of Lochend Drive and east of Highway 766.
The decision came after a lengthy discussion about the impact of building the proposed $4.5-million, two-bay facility, which will provide fire protection to about 5,500 county residents within an 12.8 km radius.
ìI think we need to get out there and find out what the public has to say about it,î said Councillor Al Sacuta, who made the unanimously supported motion to start the process.
Historically, the City of Calgary has provided emergency services to the 2,200 homes in Bearspaw, however, it will turn over responsibility for that area to the County on Dec. 31 of this year.
Since 2010, County staff investigated between seven and 10 properties in the Bearspaw area for a facility, which will provide first response to highway accidents as well as fire protection, before choosing the eight-acre municipal reserve as the best location.
The proposed 15,000-square-foot ìfire house,î which will be continually manned with a staff of six firefighters, is intended to fit in with the surrounding homes. The facility has also been designed to accommodate an ambulance and two paramedics should the Province hand over responsibility for ambulance service.
Reeve Rolly Ashdown said it is important to meet the needs of the growing community.
ìWe want the ability to respond quickly with emergency services and improve the level of service to meet the growing needs of Bearspaw and area residents,î said Ashdown. ìOur next step is to introduce the proposal to residents and give them many opportunities to provide input.î
Several councillors raised questions about the facility, including Margaret Bahcheli, who cited cost as a concern.
ìWe donít know how much it will cost three to five years out,î she said. ìUntil we can properly assess what this will cost, I donít think we can go ahead with this.î
Bahcheli also raised concern about the location, saying firetrucks leaving the site would be forced to cross Highway 1A. Bahcheli made a motion to table the discussion for more information. That motion was defeated in a seven to one vote.
Sacuta said County staff got the location right.
ìWeíve got a location that covers the maximum amount of people we can cover,î he said. ìThis location is looking... pretty good.î
Councillor Paul McLean was in support of going ahead with public consultation, saying it would be best to get going on the project before the County was forced.
ìDo you want to build this on our terms, or do you want to build this with a fire hose to our head?î he said. ìWe are going to have to start this process, whether we like it or not.î
Staff will begin having one-on-one meetings with affected residents this month for the facility, which will be funded by a combination of the Alberta Governmentís Municipal Sustainability Initiative and fire levies.
Open houses are planned for Feb. 8 and 15 at the Bearspaw Lifestyles Centre between 5 and 8 p.m. A public hearing is tentatively scheduled for April 17.
The County hopes to start construction this summer, with a grand opening planned for late 2013.
