Construction on Yankee Valley Boulevard is expected to start at the beginning of July.
During council May 21, aldermen approved a $1.8-million loan to help pay for the $3.5-million project that will widen the boulevard into a four-lane divided road from East Lake Boulevard to Kings Height Gate. The remaining funding will come from reserves.
Bob Neale, team leader for engineering services with the City, said this is the only new road construction project that will be ongoing this year.
“There’s still 24 Street (construction) and that’s a carry over from last year,” said Neale.
That project started last summer to improve the road, which runs on the west side from the City’s north to south end, to a two lane standard roadway.
Neale said the engineering department is currently finishing a detailed design for Yankee Valley Boulevard. The project is expected to be tendered and awarded within the next month.
“We’re anticipating the beginning of July or earlier (for the project) to get legs,” he said of the actual construction start.
He said the project should be finished by mid-October but noted because the winter weather that typically starts in the fall, any landscaping around the road likely won’t be completed until next spring.
The $1.8-million loan brings the City’s current debt to $54.2 million. The current provincial debt limit of the City of Airdrie is $132 million. The current debt servicing cost for the City of Airdrie is $6.2 million with a debt servicing limit of $22 million, a report to council explains.
Special ballot change
Electors will no longer be eligible to vote over the phone.
Because identification is now legislatively required when requesting a special ballot, people can no longer request one over the phone, aldermen heard during a staff presentation at the May 21 council meeting.
A special ballot allows electors who cannot vote during advance polls or on voting day, to cast their vote.
Voters can still make an application for special ballots in writing, by fax, in person or by email but must send copies of the acceptable pieces of identification as well.
People can apply for a special ballot the day after council makes a motion to approve special ballots. Staff said this request will come before council in July.
The new election procedures were approved unanimously.
For more information on what type of identification will be required, visit www.elections.ab.ca
Public hearing planned
Ravenswood residents can tell council what they think about a proposed land use redesignation at an upcoming public hearing.
The redesignation would allow 41 parcels in the subdivision to have both a front attached garage and rear garage with laneway access.
William Czaban, City planner, said the amendment is consistent with the approved land use concept plan for the Ravenswood Neighbourhood Structure Plan.
“These (41) lots were always planned to be bigger than the minimum requirements,” he said noting there is no change to the number of homes planned for the area.
Council approved first reading and set the public hearing for June 3.
Duplex talk
Council also approved a second public hearing date with no fixed date to allow for duplexes on a parcel of land west of the Rocky View School Division administration building in Prairie Springs.
Currently, the area is a low-density, multi-dwelling district meaning the development must have more than three units on it, allowing for townhouses. A staff report said this definition must have been an “oversight in the drafting of the definition.”
It also explained that this change is the result of a request from a developer interested in creating senior housing and wanting more of a mix in building types.
