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 Springbrook Alberta, Red Deer Regional Airport, Waskasoo Watershed, Gasoline Alley |
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August 30, 2007 |
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 netMagazine Business and Economy, Area Features & Attractions, Recreation, Shopping, Golf, Accommodations, Campgrounds, Restaurants, Convention Facilities, Coming Events, Weather, News Highlights & Archive, Municipal Community Profiles, Demographics & Population, Culture, Heritage, History, Transportation, Maps the life, culture, attractions and economy of Central Alberta |
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Sustainable Future, Respectful Past  Rails and Trails Innovative Transportation Heritage Celebration Regional Rail History Sustainable Community Responsible Progress Paul Pettypiece Consulting, Research 403-886-2852 Contact Paul |
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Site Map | Advertising Rates CFB Penhold | B.C.A.T.P. | Andrew Mynarski | Trails | C & E Trail | The Crossing | Rail History | C & E Railway | Alberta Central Railway | The Future |
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Two
more restaurants and a 90-acre residential development are the latest in
a series of possible projects slated for Gasoline Alley, immediately
south of Red Deer. Under construction already is a 10-screen 2,000-seat
Landmark Cinema complex and an Ashley Furniture outlet. Land is also
being cleared for a Community Savings corporate office tower that could
start construction this winter. Farther east, construction is well
underway on the first of four quarter sections for industrial
development.
A
handful of residents and several other stakeholders, along with 5
consultants from T-Six, developed an innovative draft plan over the past
four days for the
future growth of Springbrook . 
With
an ultimate buildout that would house 5,000-6,000 people, the plan
maintains the hamlet's character and promotes its heritage. 
Highlights
of the plan include two more road accesses to the community from the
north, a dedicated transit right of way that may one day be used for
regional rail, an aviation historical centre, mounted aircraft at
various points
through the community, a town centre at the confluence of the major
roadways, a K-6 elementary school, a prominent community centre, a
continuous green zone including both sides of the creek through which
the TransCanada Trail would go, a major recreation sports field
facility, other recreation and civic facilities, five residential
neighbourhoods, a large industrial zone close to the airport and
possibly a regional high school. 
There
is also a strong possibility of the Calgary-Edmonton high speed rail
running alongside the community. The planning principles used encouraged
integration of the various components of the hamlet, walkable and
attractive streets, preservation of the surrounding agricultural land
and a celebration of the area's aviation and rail history. 
The
consultants promoted a transect concept that encourages a European-style
neighbourhood centre where the greatest commercial and residential
density is in the centre with lower density moving away from the centre
and a pedestrian-friendly streetscape, as opposed to the suburban and
car-oriented urban design that has been used for the past 50 years. A
draft report will be developed that will be shared with the community at
an open house in about 8 weeks prior to going to county council for
adoption.
At a public hearing yesterday, the town of Penhold made its case to the
Municipal Government Board to annex 736 acres of land from Red Deer
County. The proposed annexation is expected to provide enough industrial
and commercial land for 25 years and enough residential land for 20
years. It would help to create a tax balance between residential and
non-residential. The plan includes two quarter sections north, two
quarter sections south and less than a quarter section east of the town
with a current population of about 2,000. In the next 20 years, the
population is expected to reach 3,200. The county has already approved
the plan.
A
modified Springbrook summer festival was held Saturday with a handful of
residents visiting with one another at the all-purpose pad/Oak St.
playground and enjoying hot dogs and pop. Earlier plans had called for a
ball hockey tournament, barbecue contest, kids games and a beer garden
but had to be scaled back as a result of a lack of teams registering for
the tournament. The community association hopes that the event will
evolve into an annual festival that will attract not only more residents
but the outlying community as well. Hot dogs were donated by Olymel.
About
750 cadets graduated today from six different programs ending this
year's summer camp. Over the summer, about 1,500 cadets went through one
of the programs, some of which were two weeks, some three weeks and some
the full six weeks. During that time, in addition to their training,
cadets participated in parades and went on field trips to Red Deer,
Calgary, Drumheller and Wetaskiwin.
About
180 musicians of the Music Wing of the Penhold Air Cadet Summer Training
Centre presented their final concert at Mynarski Park in Springbrook in
front of residents, camp staff and other cadets last night for about 2
hours. Public and concert performances are an important part of the
six-week training program. The cadets had performed a concert at Bower
Ponds in Red Deer on Saturday.
A
fierce hail storm with winds in excess of 100 km/hr hit Springbrook on
August 10, 2006 around 5 pm damaging 400 homes and several vehicles,
stripping trees and bringing down power lines. Fortunately no one was
seriously hurt. Debris from shingles, siding, windows and branches was
scattered throughout the community. Hail stones the size of golf balls
were still visible several hours after the event. 
In
the past year, the community has been transformed with most homes
receiving new shingles and siding, creating what looks like a brand new
community. Some homeowners even used the opportunity to enhance their
homes to increase property value.
