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More Recent Springbrook and Area News
December 2006

Dec. 28, 2006
August Storm Named in Top Five Canadian Weather Events
The hail and wind storm that hit Springbrook on August 10 is part of the fifth of ten Canadian weather stories of the year identified by Environment Canada senior climatologist David Phillips. The 221 hail events in western Canada broke a record in 2006, eclipsing the previous year's record of 179. The most devastating of several serious storms hitting the three prairie provinces, in terms of property damage, was 30 km long and 12 km wide through Central Alberta between the Spruce View- Markerville area and Springbrook-Gasoline Alley area. In the last 5 months, an estimated 75-80% of the repairs have been completed but there are still houses that need shingles or siding replaced, windows repaired and many finishing touches completed, such as downspouts, outdoor fixtures and interior flood damage. The top Canadian weather story of the year was the unusual amount of rain to hit the Vancouver area.
(for more information on the Springbrook storm, go to August 19 storm or, for pictures, go to Storm Pix)

Dec. 21, 2006
New Infrastructure Minister Wants Upgrades to Airport and Highways
Luke Ouellette, local MLA and the new Minister of Infrastructure and Transportation, has been given the job of developing an aviation strategy to ensure the viability of small airports by the new Premier Ed Stelmach. Mr. Ouellette believes that the Red Deer Regional Airport is viable and necessary for the economic welfare of Central Alberta and plans to work towards getting the required upgrades done. Another one of Mr. Ouellette's objectives is to expand the highway system to address growth. Two projects that he wants completed are the upgrade of Highway 2A between Penhold and Innisfail and the realignment of Highway 54 to the west side of Innisfail.

Dec. 19, 2006
County and Penhold Agree on Annexation
Red Deer County and the Town of Penhold have reached agreement on the expansion of the town's boundaries. The town will annex approximately 5 quarter sections, more than doubling its size. The annexation includes 2 quarter sections to the north, 2 to the south and slightly less than 1 to the east to Waskasoo Creek where the town plans to eventually built a recreation centre. Originally, Penhold was looking to annex 9-12 quarter sections when there was a possibility of getting the provincial police college. A public meeting will be held at the Penhold Seniors Dropin Centre on January 11 at 7 pm. On the map, pink represents the growth area and orange the current boundary.
Springbrook Area Redevelopment Plan Amendments Postponed
Red Deer County today decided to postpone the amendments proposed for the Springbrook Area Redevelopment Plan after a representative of Malibu Developments requested more clarification of specifications and simplification of the approval process. The developer plans to build on 500 lots and has already started building homes in the first phase. For a map of the Malibu development - click here
County to Build Reservoir in Petrolia Business Park
Red Deer County has decided to front-end the building of a new water reservoir east of Highway 2 and north of Gasoline Alley in Petrolia Business Park in order to insure that developers will have access to fully-serviced industrial lots in a number of parcels south of the city. The reservoir will provide capacity for 1000 acres of industrial land, of which 400 are already being planned or under development. The new facility is expected to be completed in the spring of 2007. Meanwhile, the Clearview industrial subdivision will be supplied with water from the reservoir near Costco in Gasoline Alley.

Dec. 15, 2006
Area MLA New Transportation & Infrastructure Minister
Ed Stelmach, new Premier of Alberta, announced his new provincial cabinet today and the MLA for Innisfail-Sylvan Lake, Luke Ouellette, has been appointed the new Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure. Mr. Ouellette was first elected in 2001 and served under Premier Ralph Klein as Minister of Restructuring and Government Efficiency. He lives in Pine Lake and has his constituency office in Innisfail. He supported Mr. Stelmach in his bid for the PC leadership.


Dec. 14, 2006
Red Deer's Revised Vision Includes Gasoline Alley
The City of Red Deer announced its revised 'Future Directions: Red Deer at 300,000' growth strategy today, and unlike the original plan that came out in September, this one includes all of Gasoline Alley and the industrial zones south of the city for future annexation. The new strategy suggests that the entire plan be in place in 10 years even though the population projection is 45-75 years down the road. This revision caught the County by surprise and has heated up the tension between the city and the county. Almost the entire industrial base of the county is slated for eventual annexation. The plan also suggests that an undeveloped zone be established between the city and Springbrook. Green zones are planned for the Red Deer River, Waskasoo Creek and Piper Creek. A large residential area is slated for west of Gasoline Alley to the river north of McKenzie Road. The growth strategy goes to Red Deer City Council Monday for approval.

Dec. 13, 2006
Springbrook Area Redevelopment Plan Amendment Proposed
On Tuesday, December 19, Red Deer County will decide whether or not to give second and third reading to proposed amendments to the Springbrook Area Redevelopment Plan of 1999 and the subsequent Direct Control District Guidelines adopted in 2005. Residents have the opportunity to voice their opinion on the amendment at that meeting. The purpose of the amendment is primarily to maintain the higher standard of residential development as has been initiated with the Malibu housing development currently being built on the east side of the hamlet and to clarify and modify some of the requirements outlined in the Springbrook DCD guidelines.
The standard is higher than what is normal for hamlet residential and the bylaw will allow consistency as new development occurs. The guidelines are designed to enhance the aesthetic appeal, "small town" feel and individuality of the development. Direct Control also means that all new development, whether residential, commercial or industrial, must be approved by County Council. The map on the left shows the zoning at the time of the Springbrook Area Structure Plan of 1999 (yellow-residential, purple-industrial, red-commercial, green-open space and municipal reserve, orange-institutional). Plans approved since then and proposed in the yet-to-be-approved Springbrook-Gasoline Alley Area Structure Plan have modified the vision of what Springbrook will eventually look like.

Dec. 11, 2006
Community Association Agrees to Maintain Proposed Trail
The proposed Springbrook-Penhold trail, already registered as part of the TransCanada Trail, that will run along the east side of the CP rail line, has been given a boost by the Springbrook Community Association. They have agreed to maintain and operate the trail providing the County will provide insurance. The Penhold Lions Club, who are spearheading the building and fund-raising for the trail, have no interest in operating and maintaining it once it is built. Alberta Transportation requires that a municipality enter an operating and maintenance agreement as a condition of using the old highway right-of-way for the trail. Red Deer County is prepared to do that providing that a community group is prepared to do the actual work. Maintenance of the trail is primarily picking up garbage and cutting the grass along the trail. The Association is also interested in having the TransCanada Trail run through the community rather than by it.

Dec. 7, 2006
Multi-screen Cinema/Entertainment Complex Starts Construction
A 10-screen cinema and entertainment complex is set to start construction in Gasoline Alley south of Red Deer with piles already in the ground. The 2,000 seat, 43,000 sq. ft., $7.5-10 million complex is expected to be completed by next fall south of Costco and next to Sim's and Staples. Features include curved screens, stadium seating, high-back seats and digital sound. There will also be party rooms, an interactive games area and self-serve ticket machines. The 5.4 acre site may also include commercial tenants such as a restaurant.

Dec. 6, 2006
Province Rejects Red Deer Airport Extension For Now
A request for $1 million from the provincial government for extension of the runway at the Regional Airport Red Deer has been turned down. The airport wants to extend one of the runways from 1,675 to 2,100 ft. to allow larger passenger planes to land. The total cost of the project is $2.4 million of which the airport authority was going to borrow $1 million and donate land worth $400,000. The province suggested that the authority request funds from the federal government but officials indicated that federal funds are not available for runway extensions. They also hope that a new government with new priorities may rethink the request. The project is part of a $20 million long term capital upgrade of the airport.
 
Dec. 4, 2006
Group Forms to Develop Aviation Heritage Centre
The Harvard Heritage Aviation Society has been formed to build an aviation heritage centre in Springbrook to commemorate and celebrate the historical role that the Penhold military base, airport and regional facilities played in training, security and communications as well as to focus on providing the visitor with an appreciation and understanding of the contribution of the local military personnel, aircraft, facilities and associated transportation infrastructure. Jodi Smith and Gary Hillman spearheaded the move to create a facility that would keep many artifacts of the BCATP, NATO and bunker periods of the former air training base in the area.

Dec. 1, 2006
Air Passenger Service to Saskatoon Commences
On December 1, Northwestern Air, based out of Fort Smith, NWT, commenced scheduled passenger service out of the Regional Airport Red Deer to Saskatoon with 15 passengers on its 19-passenger Jetstream 31 aircraft. The service is offered three days per week. On Mondays and Fridays, the service will extend to Meadow Lake and Fort McMurray with connections to Fort Smith and Yellowknife. On Wednesdays, the plane returns from Saskatoon the same morning.

 
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