The results from the 2014 Crossfield census are in and the town’s population continues to inch even closer to the 3,000 mark with a total population count of 2,918, a 2.3 per cent increase from the 2011 census count of 2,853.
“I think it’s always generally a good thing to see growth in a community,” Mayor Nathan Anderson said. “Our population has been somewhat stagnant over the last decade and seeing that trend (change) in a positive direction is good.”
He added the town is in the midst of healthy growth with population increasing at a manageable rate.
The 2014 census was collected from May 1 to June 30, and had a total count of 1,169 dwellings with 11 dwellings not participating.
According to Statistics Canada, the town’s population has increased from 2,668 in 2006, which translates to a 2.1 per cent population increase in the last eight years.
“We want to be in that five to six per cent (population) growth,” he said.
“It gets a lot harder to keep critical infrastructure up when you reach (growth rates of) 10 per cent or higher.”
“It’s really quality of life that’s important,” he added. “Growth contributes to (positive) quality of life as long as it’s done slowly.”
He said the development in the community is contributing to population growth. Currently, the town has two new subdivision developments underway: Iron Landing, located on the north end of town on Harrison Street, and Shantz Place, located on the southwest end of town south of Smith Avenue.
“Iron Landing Phase 1 is wrapping up and Phase 2 and 3 were just approved (in June),” Anderson said. “Shantz Place in underway and is about half built.”
The Iron Landing development Phase 1 has 25 residential lots and Phase 2 and 3 will have about an additional 80 lots, according to Anderson. The Shantz Place development will have 28 lots.
Anderson said the new developments will offer a range of options for homeowners including entry-level housing. He said the range allows for a well balanced community.
Another possible mode for new development is allowing carriage suites, a self-contained dwelling unit in a stand-alone building (such as a garage) located at the rear of a property with another self-contained dwelling.
“There has been some demand and people saying they would like to build another suite on their property,” Anderson said.
The Town has set a public hearing date for Sept. 16 at 6:30 p.m. in the Town Office, located at 1005 Ross St., to allow the public to provide input on the proposed bylaw change, which would allow carriage suites.
Anderson encouraged residents to attend and voice their concerns or support.
“If (residents) really don’t want something like this they should voice it (at the public hearing), otherwise (council) will think they are indifferent to the decision,” he said.
