In a 5-4 vote on July 29, Rocky View County (RVC) council approved third reading for the Emcor Business Park Conceptual Scheme, but the land use redesignation required to move forward with the project was defeated in a 4-4 vote.
The application for the redesignation and conceptual scheme (CS) were both given first and second reading at the public hearing on July 15, but failed the required unanimous permission for third reading.
The industrial and commercial business park is planned for 313.44 acres of land east of the City of Calgary on Range Road 285, south of Township Road 240.
The conceptual scheme (CS) indicated the park is intended to attract businesses that need utility services. The CS proposed a fully serviced communal servicing system that includes a potable water treatment facility, wastewater collection and treatment facility, and a central stormwater management facility.
The developer, Carlo Simonelli, proposed a pilot project on the land to treat stormwater and reuse it within the buildings developed on-site for non-potable uses, such as flushing toilets. An adjacent field would be used for stormwater and wastewater irrigation.
Local Councillor Earl Solberg encouraged councillors to support the CS application.
“This is an innovative approach to stormwater management, not only innovative for that, but also for the water and wastewater treatment in the area. I think it actually has a lot of merit,” said Solberg.
Councillor Jerry Arshinoff was one of the four councillors who voted opposed, along with Councillors Liz Breakey, Al Sacuta and Reeve Margaret Bahcheli.
“We have far too many problems with stormwater, and if anything, we should first address those problems and make sure we have a handle on them before we consider these matters,” said Arshinoff.
Bahcheli also cited concerns about the proposed stormwater management solution.
Although the CS was approved, the land redesignation application for the same project was defeated in a 4-4 vote. Sacuta, Breakey, Arshinoff and Bahcheli voted opposed, again citing concerns about the proposed servicing solutions and the possibility of creating flooding in the area.
“Innovation on its own is hardly anything to recommend (approval). I think what we need here is a solution that’s demonstrated to work,” said Sacuta, in reference to the stormwater pilot project.
Ashdown said he was in favour of the redesignation.
“We ask people to bring us stormwater solutions, they present them to us and we spend hours upon hours reviewing them, and at the end of the day, it doesn’t seem like anything is going to be good enough. I think this is something that’s different and different in this case works,” said Ashdown.
Councillor Lois Habberfield was unable to vote as she was not present for the entirety of the public hearing for the redesignation application that was held on July 15. Habberfield voted in favour of the CS.
RVC Communications Coordinator Anna Melnick said there is no time limit on an applicant resubmitting for a land use redesignation.
