An updated plan for development in an area east of Okotoks was presented to the public during an open house this week.
Township Planning + Design hosted the open house for the Highfield & Rowland Acres Area Structure Plan on March 19 in High River.
The Area Structure Plan (ASP) establishes guidelines to develop two new neighbourhoods east of Highway 2 near the Aldersyde overpass.
Highfield Ranch, with a planned size of 880 acres, would be south of Highway 547 while Rowland Acres, at almost 285 acres, would be north of the highway.
The open house was the sixth since 2016 that has been held for the project.
A spokesperson said there are changes to density to align with new requirements from the Calgary Metropolitan Region Board as well as to the boundary, with the southwest portion of the original plan removed.
Feedback gathered from the open house will determine if further amendments should be made before the plan goes to a public hearing at Foothills County, anticipated to be held in May.
“We’ll be taking feedback and making any amendments or mitigation measures that may be needed prior to the hearing,” the spokesperson said.
The plan area includes a variety of housing types, retail and commercial areas, and other amenities such as a school site and fire hall.
Housing includes single-family homes on lots up to two acres, semi-detached such as villas or duplexes and multi-family.
In the business areas, emphasis would be on smaller retail and commercial units that support local convenience and personal services, the plan says.
Development would be phased over 20 to 30 years and a significant amount of new infrastructure will be needed for full build-out of the plan area.
Township Planning + Design Inc. is a private planning firm specializing in land use planning and urban/community design.
