Despite administration’s recommendation to refuse the application, Rocky View County (RVC) council voted 5-3 in favour of a proposed subdivision to facilitate the construction of the Racing Entertainment Centre in East Balzac.
The original parcel, located on Dwight McLellan Trail approximately 1.6 kilometres south of Highway 566, was split into two parts when the Crosspointe Crescent road plan was registered in 2007. The area is comprehensively planned for the Racing Entertainment Centre, which includes a horse racing track and casino. Construction on the facilities is currently underway.
“The application originally included the consolidation of proposed lot one with the adjacent property to the north, where the majority of the Racing Entertainment Centre is located,” said RVC planner Ben Mercer. “This tentative plan included both properties, and showed the consolidation.”
However, when the applicant was advised that this consolidation would have implications on a Municipal Reserve (MR) on an adjacent lot, they revised their subdivision proposal. Without the consolidation component included as a condition of approval, Mercer said administration would be unable to ensure that this consolidation would occur at the time of registration.
“As the Master Site Development Plan (MSDP) which was approved in January 2014 shows the entire racetrack and associated structures on one contiguous parcel, administration does not support the creation of proposed lot one as a standalone parcel,” said Mercer. “If this proposal was to consolidate proposed lot one with the adjacent land to the north, it would be supported.”
Mercer added that if the land is not consolidated, MR that has been deferred to the adjacent land couldn’t be collected unless a further subdivision application is made that affects those lands. However, the applicant assured council at the public hearing on Feb. 10 that this consolidation would be completed through Land Titles Office.
“It’s always been our intent to merge that together,” said Darcy Marler, president of the Century Downs Racetrack and Casino. “Transportation levies, water levies, all the other costs have been paid on these lands, and the trade-off was that we could do a deferred payment on the MR.”
According to Councillor Jerry Arshinoff, the approved MSDP should have more clearly stated the applicant’s intention. Marler said the MSDP was “conceptual” in nature, and did not delineate property lines. Future subdivision of the land was the intention, but not a certainty at the time the MSDP was produced.
“The one break we gave this group so they could go forward was defer the MR,” said Deputy Reeve Lois Habberfield. “This is, in a way, a recreation amenity, and is a regional facility. It is privately owned, but a lot of people will enjoy the racing.”
Habberfield moved to approve the proposed subdivision, which was passed 5-3. Arshinoff, Bahcheli, and Councillor Al Sacuta voted in opposition.
“We’ve already deferred the MR, and it looks like it’s for $3.2 million,” said Reeve Margaret Bahcheli. “I’m not buying into the idea that this project needs anymore breaks. I don’t think this council should be considering the financial machinations of any application that comes in here.”
According to Marler, the Century Downs Racetrack and Casino will celebrate its grand opening on March 31, with their first race to be held the last week of April.
