A new application for the Fulton Industrial Park was unanimously approved by Rocky View County council, June 4.
Phase one of the initial application was denied by council, Feb 5, although the land redesignation and conceptual scheme had been approved by council in 2010 (before the current council were expected).
The February application proposed a phase one development on 186 acres of land east of Indus to include 37 industrial lots, two public utility lots and two municipal reserve lots. At final buildout the park was expected to cover 525 acres.
At that time councillors were split in their vote to approve the application. Councillors Liz Breakey, Kim Magnuson, Margaret Bahcheli and Al Sacuta voted against the approval, expressing concerns about limited servicing in the area, which would require water cisterns and wastewater pump-out tanks, stormwater infrastructure, the use of municipal reserve land, residents’ concerns about road safety, and the current proposal being different from the conceptual scheme.
The applicant submitted an appeal to the municipal subdivision appeal board committee, but postponed the hearing pending the outcome of the new application.
Bradford Chorley, Calgary contact for Resland Development Group, the developer with project, said the new application is “significantly reduced in intensity.”
“We felt the revised application we put in was workable and we hope it gave the County some additional comfort,” said Chorley.
Phase one will cover about 60 acres of land with seven industrial lots ranging in size from three to 10 acres, one public utility lot and one municipal reserve. The configuration of the proposed road within the park and lot sizes remain the same as the original application.
Councillors discussed many of the same concerns brought forward in the original application.
Sacuta questioned whether the density of the proposed lots were the same as the conceptual scheme since the February application that was denied proposed “a far higher” lot density than originally approved in 2010.
Ben Mercer, planning and development resources with the County, confirmed the lots are consistent with the conceptual scheme and the industrial activity land use district.
Sacuta also said his initial concerns about the park operating on a pump-and-haul system and its distance to Emergency Services remain.
“I think I can be in favour of this (application) on the limited scope that it is. But when it comes back for more subdivisions, I’m going to be less inclined to approve that,” he said.
General Manager of Infrastructure and Operations for the County Byron Riemann said the park will be about 11 kilometres to Langdon’s firehall, which is within the mandated requirements.
Magnuson and Bahcheli questioned administration about the size and depth of the stormwater pond that will be developed on the public utility lot. Habberfield asked what was the purpose of putting a municipal reserve around the stormwater pond, which will allow for pathways and landscaping.
Engineering services with the County stated in a report the exact logistics of the stormwater pond couldn’t be confirmed until “further analysis on the assessment.” But administration said the placement and design of the municipal reserve was to meet the preferences of the municipal lands department.
“(Approving this smaller application) allows the opportunity to see this plan in action. And that’s a better route than having the whole site designated right now. It gives (the County) the ability to react to what’s being proposed,” said Deputy Reeve Paul McLean.
Chorley said Resland Development Group plans to begin work on phase one “as soon as possible.”
“We are happy with the outcome. We think this will be one of the best limited service industrial parks the County has of its type.”
