Rocky View County (RVC) council approved rezoning 41.8 acres of land in Langdon to allow a residential and commercial development to move forward, during the Feb. 25 council meeting.
Area Councillor Rolly Ashdown said the development, Langdon Meadows West, is proposed in an “ideal location” near other residential developments that are currently building out.
Langdon Meadows West will be located east of Centre Street and north of Dead Horse Road in Langdon. The multi-phase development will consist of single- and multi-family homes, open space and pathways, and a mixed-use commercial and residential area.
Ben Lee, an associate with IBI Group - hired to design the development, said at full build-out, the development will add 200 homes to Langdon. Based on a calculation of three people per home, Lee said he estimates the development will accommodate another 650 in the hamlet.
Lee said the Conceptual Scheme for Langdon Meadows, which includes an eastern and a western portion being constructed by different developers, was approved by the County in 2006. He said the eastern portion of the development has received subdivision approval, and at full build-out, will consist of more than 150 residential lots, as well as different businesses and industrial uses.
“(Langdon Meadows West) will offer an enclave to further the Hamlet of Langdon. We hope this will foster the live, work, play objectives that Langdon has,” said Lee in his presentation to council.
He said Langdon Meadows West will feature a large green space near the centre of the development, and will be “well connected” with sidewalks and trails, including pathways into the adjacent development, Boulder Creek.
“Our intention is to achieve pedestrian comfort,” said Lee, adding every street in the development will have a sidewalk on at least one side of the road, which is not common in many of the other residential areas in Langdon.
Lee said the development is pending RVC subdivision approval, and if decisions go in their favour, construction is expected to begin late this year or by the second quarter of 2015. He said the focus will be on developing the large green space and residential portion first, and “the commercial and mixed uses will be a few years down the line.”
A RVC report listed 45 potential acceptable uses for the mixed-use commercial area of the development, including a hotel, shopping centre, restaurants, offices and entertainment services.
Ashdown made a motion to remove liquor stores as a permitted use, as he said Langdon “already has three liquor stores.” Eight councillors voted in favour of Ashdown’s motion, and Councillor Greg Boehlke voted opposed. Pubs and restaurants serving alcohol will still be permitted.
Ashdown also made a motion to change the minimum parcel size in the development from 650-square-metres to 686-square-metres “to give consistency with the entirety of Langdon Meadows,” as that is the minimum parcel size in Langdon Meadows East. Seven councillors supported this.
Several councillors had questions about the stormwater management plan. According to administration, a stormwater pond will not be built within the development, but stormwater will be discharged through the adjacent Boulder Creek development. Lee said more details on the stormwater management plan will come up at the subdivision and development permit approval phase, expected later.
Councillor Al Sacuta said he would like to see a fiscal impact analysis presented to council at a future approval stage.
“This could cost us a lot, it could cost us nothing, it could even generate us some net revenue, I have no idea, but it would be nice to know that,” he said.
Haberfield said she thinks “there’s a lot of merits” in this development. She said the development will help connect the area and other surrounding developments to the rest of Langdon.
During the public hearing, one landowner spoke to the application. Dana Kasha said her house is located where the future commercial development is proposed.
“I’m more in favour (of the development) than opposed, but I’m not necessarily one or the other,” she said.
Council voted unanimously to approve the land rezoning.
