February 25, 2005
(Red Deer, Alberta) – After a thorough review of input from the public and stakeholders, The City of Red Deer has made its final revisions to the 2004 Growth Study. On February 28, 2005, The City will present the 2004 Growth Study to City Council to receive as an informational document only. The document will help provide direction for where, when and how The City should develop land over the next 50 years.
The 2004 Growth Study reflects various changes since the last review, which was conducted in 2000. These include changes in development trends, environmental management initiatives, existing land use, population forecasts, servicing and transportation.
"This planning document will be an important tool for our region, as together, with Red Deer County, we work to accommodate and manage future growth in a careful and well thought-out manner," said Bryon Jeffers, Director of Development Services, The City of Red Deer. "Updating the Growth Study at this time allows us to address the impacts of recent growth, incorporate new policies, coordinate new environmental information and provide direction to statutory plans currently being updated."
The City presented its initial draft of the 2004 Growth Study to the public in an open house on November 25, 2004.
"We received excellent input from this open house and have reviewed, in detail, every comment and suggestion to ensure that this final document adequately addresses all areas of concern and interest," said Jeffers.
"As a result of this feedback, we have incorporated further information on environmental conditions, trends and conservation plans, and have added an ecospace areas map," said Jeffers. "As well, based on additional commercial analysis, the Growth Study has been amended to provide a larger site for commercial development."
The final 2004 Growth Study document includes information on:
- 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;
- Demographic, environmental and development trends;
- Servicing and transportation information;
- Descriptions of potential growth areas with regard to soils, topography, natural features and oil and gas information;
- Targeted growth sectors around the city for residential, commercial and industrial use including land currently outside city boundaries; and
- A growth strategy identifying appropriate sectors for future short, medium and long term residential, public service, industrial, commercial and open space uses.
To accommodate current and future growth demands, the 2004 Growth Study recommends that the city's residential and commercial growth be focused in the east and that industrial growth take place along the west side of the city.
"The Growth Study reinforced the fact that our most pressing task will be to address the city's need for industrial land," said Jeffers. "We will continue working together with Red Deer County, residents, businesses and other stakeholders as we move forward on this and on other initiatives to ensure our region grows in a healthy, sustainable and strong manner."
More information on the 2004 Growth Study can be found in the Keeping You Informed section of The City of Red Deer Web site at www.reddeer.ca.
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For more information, please contact:
Nancy Hackett
Planner
Parkland Community Planning Services
(403) 343-3394
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