In a split vote, Rocky View County council approved a conceptual scheme for a 525-acre industrial park east of Indus, June 21.
Fulton Industrial Park is a proposed limited service industrial park expected to contain primarily storage and manufacturing related businesses. The finished lot sizes will range from 2.5 to 100 acres.
The location, which is next to the Canadian Pacific Railway and Highway 22X, has been identified as a minor business corridor in the Growth Management Strategy and Municipal Development Plan.
“This Fulton Industrial Park will be a benefit to the Indus area and the whole southeast corner of Rocky View,” said Division 4 Councillor Jim Rheubottom. “They (the developers) have proven themselves in past places.”
The applicant, Resland Development Group, is proposing a pump-and-haul system for water and sewer, as there is no regional wastewater system in the area.
Currently, the land is being used for crops. There is an acreage subdivision of five four-acre lots neighbouring the property to the west.
Several residents in the area raised concerns about the location, traffic, storm water, visual appeal, noise pollution and crime. The County received 10 letters in opposition and three in support of the proposal.
Neil Mason lives directly across from the proposed site and is opposed to the industrial park.
“Yes, this is about ‘in my backyard,’” said Mason. “Some of these things start out well and don’t end up well. I am dead set against this.”
Neighbour Nicole Haycock concurs.
“All of us adjacent to it (the site) are opposed to it,” said Haycock. “I have grown up in the Indus area my whole life and appreciate Indus the way it is.”
The plan includes berms, trees and a large public open space along the western side to help create a buffer between neighbouring residences. Building height will be restricted to better fit into the landscape.
Councillors Hopeton Louden, Mitch Yurchak and Harvey Buckley voted against the proposal citing timing, lack of public input on planning documents and uncertainty about servicing.
“This is no small undertaking and I believe we are flying by the seat of our pants on some of the servicing systems,” said Buckley. “There are too many unpredictable circumstances for me to support it.”
“I believe the location has some merit to it,” said Yurchak. “I have concerns over the pump-and-haul over four quarter sections. I think you need to come up with a more permanent solution. I would have liked to see more thought put into it.”
Division 6 Councillor Greg Boehlke said servicing details would be worked out at the subdivision and redesignation stages.
“It is an economic goal of the County to have some non-residential development,” said Boehlke. “This is a concept plan...as we go forward all these things will be dealt with.”
Rheubottom agreed and asked council to give the go ahead to developers.
“We have to keep in mind this is just a conceptual scheme at this time,” said Rheubottom. “At redesignation and subdivision, the detail will be worked out. I would like to ask for your support in this.”
