Urban Development

[cowdog]

I live a ways out from any town, 12 miles in fact. So, I always thought it would be a long time before urbanization would rear its ugly head in the middle of my community, but alas I was wrong. My county got the idea that node developments would be a good idea and a willing landowner and failed farmer found a willing developer. Now they want to put 300 plus luxury houses on a slough in the centre of a prosperous farming community. With what has leaked out about the new Land Use Framework, it is going to be one hell of a fight to stop it. Anyone got any ideas? See what we are trying to protect go to the following web page:

http://www.daveylakefacts.org/Welcome.html

[silverback]

The website says 25 minutes south of Red Deer. I don't recall any lakes of any size south of Red Deer (other than Glennifer!)

I have heard the ads on radio out of Calgary.

[per]

Wow, talk about destruction of a perfectly good Storey with the facts. I saw the developers site first. Looks pretty appealing. How many will be sucked in before hearing the facts? I don't have any brilliant answers for you, just moral support.

[cowdog]

The so called lake is east of Bowden about 11 miles on the 587> it us really just the largest wetland in a series of wetlands,Silverback.
and thanks Per

[silverback]

What happens to it in the dry years?

[cakadu]

We need to get one thing perfectly straight - the water body at the *****on dam is NOT a lake. It is a reservoir for the dam and it is still mind-boggling as to how they can call something a lake that has fluctuating water levels.

In terms of cowdog's post - they may have some difficulty getting around the wetland side of things. Which county is it actually in - Red Deer or Kneehill?

Where does one find the leaked Land Use Framework info you refer to?

[silverback]

Boy Cakadu must have had too much coffee this morning! lol

I would personally define a lake as to whether or not you can get a motor boat over 30 mph for about a mile.

(Don't most lakes have fluctuating water levels?)

This slough at Davey should be left alone.

[per]

1 A large body of fresh water entirely, or almost entirely, surrounded by land. 2 a large pool of liquid.

According to Collins Gage Southern Alberta has many lakes. Some with dams on the end and some just made of liquid. Chain lakes, Little Bow, Mcgregor and Gennifer are all lakes. So are the tailing ponds in Fort Mac and maybe even Davey!

[wilagro]

Anyone buying a home in this development should be prepared for nothing but problems. With a watertable as variable as described, I wouldn't invest one nickle in it.

Some people are out to make a killing out of low-cost property.

[cowdog]

the "lake" has dryed to the point that it has been used to cut hay in the past but about 15 years ago DU canada built a dam on the outlet so the water now only falls a few feet in summer and the fall
the landuse framework was first leaked at the Calgary Chamber of Commerce nothing concrete but some inclinations
one of which is salable developement credits
another leak was the wetland policy but it has no teeth and is superceded by the Municipal Government Act which promotes developement

[cowdog]

south end of Red Deer County is the location of Davey Lake

[coppertop]

To stop a development you need the support of various environmental groups, all the folks who live in, and are in the agricultural business around the development. A case will need to be made about protecting wetlands if that is what it is, Ducks Unlimited whould be a first step in getting experts involved. It will take some organization and a willingness on the part of the community to fight in the trenches to oppose it. Pressure on county council members is the first step.
The land will require re-zoning and an area structure plan approved before it can go ahead. If you don't want the development in your community fight it and don't back down.

[cowdog]

hi coppertop.
we are weell organized as a community with the expressed purpose of stopping davey lake development. DU Canada was the first people we contacted but, they will not involve themselves in the fight, but, only provide us with information. It is very hard to get environmental groups involved or even interested in this area. If you have any insight into this avenue I would appreciate it. So, far we have contracted AWA, Sierra Club and Nature Calgary.
The developer Davey Lake Developements with the cooperation of the county development officor try to by-pass the re-zoning and go directly to an area structure plan but, we raised so much hell with the council that the council reined in the DO and said that the landowner would need to apply for re-zoning first.

[coppertop]

Some Development Officers recommend bringing the ASP and Re-Zoning application to council at the same meeting, which, in my view, makes council feel pressured.
I would think you are on the right track, if you have significant numbers of taxpayers in opposition. Bear in mind, those who oppose any development do not necessarily have to reside close to it. Opposing the development anywhere within the county is the right of any taxpayer regardless of where they own land or reside.