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Springbrook and Area News
August 18, 2010
County Meeting Draws 75 Springbrook Residents
A
special meeting, initiated by Springbrook residents and managed by Red
Deer County, attracted 75 Springbrook residents last night to the
Springbrook Community Centre to discuss a variety of drainage issues and
basement flooding experienced after the heavy rainfalls of July 12 and
13 when over 100 mm of rain fell over the two-day period. Many residents
believe that the drainage problems were a direct result of the
infrastructure rehabilitation program completed last year to replace
55-year-old pipes that had deteriorated. One of the county's objectives
of the upgrades to the sanitary and stormwater systems was to eliminate,
or least reduce, direct connection or infiltration of storm water into
the sanitary sewer system. The county had estimated a few years ago that
5 to 6 times the water being used in Springbrook was getting into the
sanitary sewer system resulting in very high costs in transporting that
water to the Red Deer water treatment plant via the Waskasoo Regional
sewer line. With the upgrades, the result has been more storm water run
off not being drained off properties to the degree residents expect.
Representatives from Epcor, Tagish Engineering and county operations as
well as county manager Curtis Herzberg and concillor Penny Archibald
were on hand to talk with individuals about their concerns.
Display
boards were set up to help explain some of the challenges of storm
water, handouts were available and everyone was encouraged to fill out
comment forms which will be evaluated over the next several days. There
was also information available about the province's disaster relief
funding program for uninsurable damages. Only about a half dozen
applications from the community were received. About six or seven issues
were identified as causes for the drainage problems, some of which the
county plans to investigate. Some issues are considered the
responsibility of property owners, some the responsibility of the county
and special issues were identified in the Malibu area possibly due to
the stormwater retention pond (constructed wetland) being much higher
this year than anticipated.
Springbrook-Penhold Trail Slowly Makes Progress
Work
is expected to get underway soon on a wetland viewing area in the
Springbrook nature park south of Tamarac Boulevard where a gravel trail
system was developed last year by Red Deer County. In addition, work
might commence this fall on a 3 km section between the park and Penhold
along Range Road 281. Paving of the Springbrook-Penhold Trail is likely
next year. Residents of both communities have been pushing for a trail
linking the two communities for over 10 years. The county identified the
link as a high priority in the Open Spaces Master Plan. However, a trail
linking Springbrook with Red Deer could be years away. Residents are
concerned that people, especially children and teens, are using the
Highway 2A shoulder to walk or bike between the three communities and
that eventually someone is going to get seriously hurt or killed.
Recently a 17-year-old from Penhold who is believed to have been walking
on the shoulder was killed just south of Red Deer. The number of people
using the shoulder to walk and bike has apparently decreased since
transit service was introduced between Springbrook and Red Deer last
year. Penhold is studying whether to link up to that transit service.
Meanwhile, a trail is currently under construction along Airport Drive
linking the natural park with a trail to be built along the berm east of
the Malibu development.
August 17, 2010
Penhold Survey
Probes Interest in Transit Service
The town of Penhold is sending out transportation surveys to its
residents to determine if there is sufficient public interest in
establishing transit service between Penhold and Springbrook where
riders may be able to link to the Springbrook-Red Deer-Gasoline Alley
transit service.
August 4, 2010
DCD Zoning Changes Adopted Without Modification
Red
Deer County council gave second and third reading to changes proposed by
the planning department for the Direct Control District #4 which
includes all of the newer areas of Springbrook ('old' Springbrook, the
original Mynarski Park residential area, is not included), the Red Deer
Regional Airport lands, future development areas, and the Woosh
recreation area east of the CPR tracks. Seven people from Springbrook
attended the public hearing yesterday and some expressed concern about
the restrictions concerning the location of community facilities, as
well as the fact that residents in 'old' Springbrook, about 95% of the
total population of the hamlet, were not informed of the changes or
public hearing. However, the changes were adopted without delay or
modification. The Springbrook Community Association indicated that it is
exploring locations for a new multi-use community centre and wanted to
maintain options there were removed in the proposed changes. However, it
was determined later that if a suitable site for the facility was
determined, the land use could be changed. There were also concerns
expressed about how the Malibu Communities subdivision was developed and
that some land uses in that area have changed from single family to
multiple family zones that some residents were unaware of.
County Adopts River Valley & Tributaries Park Plan
Red
Deer County has adopted the Red Deer River Valley and Tributaries Park
Concept Plan that was created jointly by the county and the city of Red
Deer that provides guidelines for future development along the river,
Waskasoo Creek, Piper Creek and other natural areas. Among 21
recommendations, it provides for the expansion of Waskasoo Park into
city growth areas, as well as the development of future trails and
buffer zones along waterways and natural areas. The plan compliments the
county's Open Spaces Master Plan, adopted last year. It is anticipated
that during the next 25 years, over 7,000 acres of park land and over
350 km of trails will be created. The plan also suggests that the
abandoned Alberta Central (CPR) rail lines be eventually converted to
part of a regional trail system, possibly extending to Sylvan Lake and
beyond. Other trails would link Springbrook with Gasoline Alley, the Red
Deer River, Waskasoo Creek, Fort Normandeau and the city.
July 31, 2010
Three Running for County
Mayor So Far
There are three candidates that have announced their intention so far to
run for the mayor position for Red Deer County this fall. Division 1
councillor Jim Wood from the Delburne area, former councillor Stan Bell
from the Sylvan Lake area, and Debra Hanna from the Benalto area are all
taking a run at the position. The current mayor of the county, Earl
Kinsella, announced earlier this year that he is not seeking
re-election. Nomination day for the municipal election is September 20
and the election is October 18.
July 29, 2010
County to Discuss Heavy Rain Drainage Issues
Representatives from the Operations department of Red Deer County will
be available to speak with Springbrook and area residents concerning
drainage issues related to heavy rainfalls, similar to what has been
experienced over the past couple of months, on August 17 at 7 pm at the
Springbrook Community Centre. Several residents have had flooded
basements as a result of the downpours, the saturated ground and
infrastructure improvements that may have blocked stormwater from
getting into the sanitation sewer system. It may also be possible that
victims of flooding could qualify for provincial emergency funding for
damages that are uninsurable.
Plasco Gets
Multi-Million Dollar Investment Boost
A private investment company from
Los Angeles has given a $100 million investment boost to the proposed
waste-to-energy Plasco plant in Red Deer County. The new cash brings the
total amount to $270 million invested in the gasification technology
that uses intense heat to convert municipal garbage into a gas that can
generate electricity. The company is still waiting to hear from Ottawa
regarding a $24 million grant from the Green Infrastructure Fund.
Construction on the 200-tonne per day plant to be built next to the Horn
Hill Waste Transfer Site east of Penhold could begin later this year.
July 27, 2010
Sky Wings Academy Trains Students from Around the
World
Sky Wings Aviation Academy, located adjacent to the Red Deer Regional
Airport at Springbrook, expects to be training several students from
India soon. The emerging economic powerhouse country of around a billion
people has a severe shortage of trained pilots. An accelerated program
takes about 9 months to complete. The paperwork to bring the students to
Canada is currently underway. In the past, the facility has trained
students from China, India, Norway, England, Germany, France,
Switzerland, the U.S., Jamaica, Africa and the Middle East.
July 21, 2010
Public Hearing Aug. 3 on Springbrook DCD Zoning
Changes
Red Deer County has given first reading to a bylaw that will make some
changes to the DCD (Direct Control District) that includes the hamlet of
Springbrook, except for the original Mynarski Park area of the
community, and the Red Deer Regional Airport. A public hearing will be
held on Tuesday, August 3 at 1:30 pm in council chambers for input from
anyone affected by the changes before council gives second and third reading.
The
new bylaw expands the DCD zone to include areas affected by the Area
Redevelopment Plan (the original DCD zone) plus the Malibu Outline Plan,
the Harvard Park Phase 2 Outline Plan and the area occupied by Woosh
Recreation. It also makes several changes to land uses that are
considered minor. One of the changes is removing community facilities
from both Low and Medium Density Residential areas and Public Service
areas (green on the map along the swale/creek, the buffer and detention
pond east of Malibu and the fire hall block). The new bylaw indicates
that community facilities are best suited to the Comprehensive Town Centre
area (red on the map including the current recreation centre/store building
area, hockey academy and blocks northwest). Outdoor Recreation
Facilities and Schools have also been removed from Public Service areas.
Home business major is removed as a discretionary use from Low Density
Residential (yellow areas on the map) and wasn't included in Medium
Density Residential in the previous plan. Home business major permits
would not be considered anywhere in the hamlet zoned DCD due to parking
restrictions and narrow lots. A new Commercial Recreation area has been
designated to accommodate the golf course on the east side of the
railway tracks. It is not clear in the revised bylaw what uses are
permitted in the Municipal Reserve area (light green on the map
including the sports fields and proposed museum site) and Mixed Use
areas (including the area northwest of the recreation centre building
identified in other plans as a proposed site for a community centre).
The original Mynarski Park area is zoned low and medium density
residential and therefore subject to the appropriate regulations in the
Land Use Bylaw.
July 15, 2010
Gasoline Alley Hotel
Nears Completion
The
new 4-storey, 110-unit Hampton Inn and Suites hotel, under construction
on the west side of Highway 2 in Gasoline Alley south of the city at the
corner of Leva Avenue and Lake Street, is expected to open by
mid-August. Part of the Hilton Hotel chain, it features a swimming pool,
fitness area and laundry facilities and will offer guests a
complimentary warm breakfast. Meanwhile, a 111-unit Holiday Inn hotel
and conference centre has started construction on the east side of the
highway.
July 14, 2010
Unusual Rainfall Causing Some Basement Flooding
Two
days of rain have dumped about 100 mm (4 inches) of water onto the
already wet terrain in and around Springbrook causing some residents to
experience basement flooding who have never had to deal with it before.
There has been considerable water pooling in low lying areas and
farmland. The constructed wetland/detention pond next to the Malibu
residential development has reached levels higher than ever expected
creating a potential hazard to children who wander too close but appears
to be doing the job it was intended to do. Residents in some areas of
Penhold are also experiencing flooding as the storm water system
struggled to handle the large volume of rain. However the new Woosh golf
course next to Highway 2A is happy to see its water features fill up
while much of the course is draining away excess water successfully
except for a couple of fairways.
Flood Victims May be Eligible for Provincial Disaster
Relief
People in the Springbrook area who suffered damage due to uninsurable
basement flooding may be eligible for provincial disaster relief. A
flyer is being circulated in the hamlet giving instructions on how to
apply. It is advised that those applying get a letter from their
insurance company stating that the damage is uninsurable.
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