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1.
Why does The City conduct a growth study?
A growth study is an important planning tool that The City uses to help ensure that proper provisions are in place to support a strong, growing and sustainable community. Growth studies explore a number of factors such as development trends, existing land uses, population forecasts, servicing and transportation considerations, land absorption rates and anticipated land requirements. These factors help The City identify potential growth areas for residential, industrial, commercial, public service and open space uses. As a result, The City is able to accurately forecast and make necessary arrangements (such as supplying land, building infrastructure and expanding utility services) to facilitate growth in a balanced, viable and beneficial manner.
2. When was the last study completed?
The City last completed a growth study in February 2000. At this time, much of the information in the study was based on data and statistics from 1999.
3. Why update the growth study now?
Over the past few years, the Red Deer Region has experienced strong residential, industrial and commercial growth. This strong growth has impacted a number of factors originally identified in the 2000 Growth Study. As it is important for The City to base planning on current information that accurately reflects existing conditions, an update to the 2000 Growth Study was needed. Work for the 2004 Growth Study is being conducted in cooperation with Red Deer County and in compliance with The City's current Strategic Plan and planning policies, and the joint City-County Intermunicipal Development Plan. Once complete, the study will enable The City to knowledgeably manage and plan for continued strong growth in the future.
4. What factors are being considered for the 2004 Growth Study?
The 2004 Growth Study considers:
· Population and growth forecasts for the 90,000, 115,000 and 160,000 thresholds;
· Current and expected residential, industrial, and commercial land absorption rates;
· Expected future residential, industrial, commercial, public service and open space land needs for the next 50 years; and
· Targeted growth sectors around the city for residential, commercial and industrial uses including land currently outside of city boundaries.
5. How will results of this study be used?
Results from the 2004 Growth Study will be used to identify potential growth areas both in and around the city and to generate future short, medium and long term growth strategies for the city.
6. Where does the study project growth will occur?
Growth areas identified in the study are still under review as The City seeks feedback from the public. Currently, the study recommends that industrial growth take place along the west side of the city, and residential and commercial growth be focused in the east. The study also calls for limited residential and commercial growth to the north.
Specific growth areas identified in the study are as follows:
Industrial
- West of Highway 2
- South of Delburne Road
Residential
- East side of the city, moving progressively from north to south
- Limited area in the northwest sector around Hazlett Lake
Public service (i.e. schools) and open space (i.e. parks) areas will also be intermixed within residential growth areas.
Commercial
- Infill development along existing commercial corridors on Gaetz Avenue, downtown, and 67 Street
- New development integrated into new residential districts possibly as commercial villages
- Major commercial nodes in north and east quadrants of the city
7. How were these areas selected?
Each prospective growth area was evaluated based on specific criteria, which was used to determine what land was best suited for what purposes. This criteria included considerations such as feasibility of extending hard services (such as water, sewer and roads) and soft services (such as fire, ambulance, policing, parks and recreation), as well as existing uses, environmental considerations, challenges, visibility, access, and proximity to like-development, dwellings or employment.
8. When will the 2004 Growth Study be completed?
After The City gathers feedback from the public, final revisions will be made. It is anticipated that the 2004 Growth Study will be completed in December 2004. Once finished, the study will be presented before City Council to receive as an informational document only.
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