In an effort to link the proposed Gardner development to the community of Bragg Creek, Western Securities announced a commitment to construct 6.4 kilometres of the Trans Canada Trail from Highway 22 to the east entrance of the Gardner project.
“We want to emulate the success of the trail between Canmore and Banff,” said Guy Buchanan, Gardner project lead.
“It’s been a home run in terms of regional recreation, and we want to duplicate that idea to strengthen and support the community of Bragg Creek in a way that’s good for both our customers and the local business market.”
Gardner Ranch is an Elbow Valley style project that maintains the look and feel of currently established land in the area along Highway 8, Buchanan said. The development will be located on 1,500 acres north of the highway down to the Elbow River, and is planned to accommodate 1,800 residential units.
According to Buchanan, the trail will highlight the wellness theme throughout the proposed Gardner development. With 40 per cent open space, the project will offer a “labyrinth” of walking and biking trails, a sports club, and a wellness centre with an opportunity for public and private healthcare, said Buchanan.
“The regional pathway is just a logical extension of that,” Buchanan said. “We’ve seen a great response so far, and I think it’s going to be viewed very favourably once the message gets out there.”
Buchanan said the group is also excited to help revitalize the community of Bragg Creek, which is still rebuilding after the devastating flood of 2013. According to Buchanan, Alberta TrailNet is hoping to see more corporations take the initiative to continue developing the stretch of trail along Highway 8.
Construction on the trail won’t begin until after land use for Gardner is approved by Rocky View County (RVC) council and rough grading is completed for the Trans Canada Trail as part of the twinning of Highway 8, but Buchanan said that they hope to see construction begin by the end of 2016 – it’s just a matter of timing.
“It’s a matter of funding availability and priority, the twinning of this highway,” he said. “But when it’s ready to go, we want to be a part of it. It’s important for us to demonstrate this commitment to the greater region.”
A public hearing for the proposed land use redesignation for the development will be held at RVC council on June 23. If this redesignation is approved, Buchanan said the group will bring forward a second redesignation to further subdivide the land, and hopes to see grading begin in the fall of 2016.
