As Okotoks continues to grow, developers met with community members Wednesday evening to discuss another large-scale development proposal.
An open house was held for the Ridgemont Neighbourhood Area Structure Plan (NASP) at St. James Church.
"I think people are concerned about the general greater infrastructure issues in Okotoks, like water and transportation, which we expect," said Lamont Land vice-president Scott Lamont. "Fortunately, there's solutions for both of those issues."
The proposal encompasses 160 acres south of 338 Avenue and east of 32 Street, with St. James Church and Holy Trinity Academy included in the plan area.
"We know that 32nd and 338 are already busy," said Lamont. "The Town is undergoing a functional study on 338, and new development funds the infrastructure upgrades on 338. That'll be the same thing on 32nd. The Town hasn't started a functional study on that portion yet, but they will start that process as well."
An estimated 1,400 to 1,730 units — ranging from single-family homes to high density options such as row houses and multi-family residential units — will make up Ridgemont.
"Housing affordability is a really key concern for the Town, so working with the developer, seeing 12 units per acre, lots of multi-residential will definitely increase opportunities for all demographics to be able to afford to live in Okotoks," said Town of Okotoks development planner Colton Nickel.
Ridgemont is set to house 4,000 to 5,000 people at full build-out.
"We are proactively planning to accommodate more and more residents. We also work closely with other organizations, for example the school boards or not-for-profits and other recreational organizations, to make sure that we can provide the added amenities that we're going to need for all these additional Okotokians," said Nickel.
"We're also proactively working to make sure off-site levies cover the cost of the enhanced requirements for recreation or fire infrastructure, those type of things," he added.
The development also aims to feature a commercial and retail area, approximately 5.1 hectares of parks and open space, and over 6.5 kilometres of regional and local parkways.
"We'll be seeing within the park spaces, new parks, possibly an urban dog park, other community amenities like a community garden that kind of enhance the town," said Nickel.
In response to concerns about water consumption, Nickel said that the developer requires water license allocations to proceed with the development.
"One other big thing that'll be unique about this development that's different from others is the stormwater reuse, so utilizing the stormwater from the storm pond to potentially irrigate park spaces or sports fields will help be water-wise," he said.
"So they're going to be pioneering some new technologies with this development as well."
He added that development will not move forward until the regional water pipeline is completed — originally slated to be finished by the summer of 2025, Okotoks Mayor Tanya Thorn stated in January that the project has been pushed back to 2026.
"We're really hoping that we'll have building permits ready in late fall 2025," said Lamont. "So realistically, houses wouldn't be built until early part of 2026, which is in line with the new water system coming online with the Town as well."
Details of the Ridgemont proposal were previously shared with the public during a virtual information session last September, following the Town's approval of the Trilogy Plains Area Structure Plan in June of that year.
Ridgemont is situated in the western half of the Trilogy Plains Area, while the eastern half is dedicated to commercial and industrial use.
The Town of Okotoks hosted an open house on May 30 for future industrial, commercial and recreational development for the North Point Area Structure Plan in northeast Okotoks.
