It’s time to have a little talk about growth.
With a new water pipeline set to come on stream next year, the pressure to develop in Okotoks will surely intensify as we make our way through the next 12 months, which means it’s vitally important that residents have their say on how that growth is managed.
Okotoks council will be formulating a growth strategy in 2024 to determine what rate of development makes sense for the town, but unless civic leaders hear from you, they’ll be left to come up with that document on their own.
Many moved to Okotoks because of its small-town charm and abundant open spaces, so may view growth as a dirty word, an intrusion that undermines all that is held dear. It’s OK to like where you live and not want to see it materially change, so if that’s your viewpoint, let council know.
On the other hand, growth has the opportunity to provide much-needed housing variety through denser development. This not only creates more options for those in search of a place to live, but it also helps address the affordability crisis by creating smaller, less expensive units.
Okotoks’ housing stock is very single-family-centric, and while that serves a certain need, it fails to adequately address other aspects of the housing spectrum, which could be met through development.
Measured, well-planned growth can be a benefit to the town and its inhabitants, but too much, too soon, the kind of unchecked suburban sprawl seen elsewhere, can most certainly have a less than desirable outcome.
There's a fine line between standing still and moving too fast, so it’s imperative the correct balance is struck in the growth strategy and then adhered to in the years to come. Decisions made this year will determine the look, character and demographics of Okotoks moving forward, so get involved.