By Dori Modney (@Dori_Modney on Twitter)

Council Approves Future Guide for City’s South-East Development

May 16, 2016 | 5:58 PM

LETHBRIDGE:   A long-term vision and plan for future development of southeast Lethbridge has been approved by City Council.

The plan encompasses 680 hectares of land east of the   Lakeview, Redwood, Fairmont and Southgate neighbourhoods, and outlines a significant amount of residential development, with a variety of housing.

There is also employment generating developments, as well as open space and public and institutional land uses.

The new Southeast Area Structure Plan is designed to align with provincial planning requirements and the City’s Municipal Development Plan, and lays out how the land uses will be served by infrastructure and the different stages of development.

Council Chambers were packed with residents two weeks ago for the Southeast Area Structure Plan public hearing, which provided an overview of the plan and offered residents a chance to express their thoughts. Mayor Chris Spearman noted, “The feedback was very positive and that speaks to all the hard work, input and research that went into the plan.”

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While the area structure plan offers a framework to guide future development, it is still flexible enough to allow development to begin in some areas, as consultation continues on long term developments.  There is no time line for the development and the details have yet to be worked out as each developer brings their outline plans forward.

Councilor Jeff Carlson admits there may still be questions about the Special Plan Area (SPA) which offers the flexibility of two options and will be debated during a two-year public consultation process.

Carlson says there is one particular street element that Council is happy to see return in this development plan.

“We’re pushing towards moving back to the grid system. We tried the curvy, linear (streets with many alcoves and crescents) for many, many years and I know that my GPS unit doesn’t like it and my brain doesn’t like it – so, I’m looking forward to the grid system – I can understand that.”

The Southeast Area Structure Plan was recommended to City Council for approval by the Municipal Planning Commission in February of 2016, after being initiated by the City Planning Department in 2013.  For more information visit the City website