A pilot project designed to address developer complaints that the city’s planning process is too lengthy and complex has been launched as part of the Transforming Planning initiative.
Under the project, a research and development phase before the city implements its new system, project applications will be submitted and reviewed within the new planning process.
The applications will have the same status as any other approved project at the city.
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“Better than expected” is the way many builders and developers described Calgary’s residential market in 2012.
And when asked to gaze into their crystal ball for an outlook on the upcoming 365 days, many are expecting the Stampede City to hold its place as an appealing place for the housing industry.
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City council approved an offsite levy bylaw Dec. 17.
Developers will now pay an average of $73,854 per acre for levies and recreation contributions to help pay for necessary infrastructure, such as roads, water and sewer in new neighbourhoods.
That number is up by about 18 per cent, from an average of $62,000 per acre more than what the City previously charged developers.
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A proposed horse racing track in Balzac may at long last be gaining ground with a $13 million loan from a casino, developers say.
United Horsemen of Alberta says it has made a deal with Century Casinos to fund the long-proposed horse track and entertainment area. If approved, it would feature 5.5 furlongs (0.7 miles) of race track, and a casino with 625 gambling machines, a bar, a lounge, restaurant facilities, an off-track-betting area and an entertainment space.
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The Alberta Securities Commission handed out $160,000 in penalties against two different land developers yesterday after both admitted to illegally trading and distributing securities.
David Brezsnyak was hit with the bulk of those penalties. The ASC ordered him to pay $100,000 plus $6,000 in costs. The ASC says Brezsnyak earned approximately $3.5 million between 2002 and 2011 by selling Westside Land Corp. securities to roughly 1,500 investors. The company’s business was in buying farmland near Calgary, preparing the area for development and then selling the land to a property developer. In total, the company was involved in 11 land projects, three of which were sold to developers in 2006.
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A Calgary-based development firm is seeking local support for a business park south of Fort McMurray.
Pacific Investments and Development Ltd., plus several planning and engineering firms, are requesting amendments to the municipality’s Highway 63 and 881 structure plan before they can pursue the project. The proposed Prairie Creek Business Park would be a heavily commercial area, rather than industrial or residential.
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AIRDRIE – City council has tabled an off-site levies bylaw, after developers from the community came forward to express their concerns about some of the proposed fees.
Off-site levies are charges given to new developments. The fees help the City of Airdrie recover the funds that are needed to make infrastructure improvements, such as new or expanded water/sanitary sewer facilities, and new or expanded roads.
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Edmonton’s old neighbourhoods need young families to keep their schools full of children and to create ready customers who spend at local businesses. But land prices are far cheaper on the outskirts. Young families can get more house for their dollar as a result, so the lure of the suburbs will pull new homebuyers in that direction.
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In the old days, you’d buy a mailbox and put it on your house.
Now for the first time, financially strapped Canada Post is going to charge developers to install community mailboxes in new subdivisions or commercial developments – $200 per address beginning in January.
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EDMONTON – People sporting green ribbons and buttons packed the council chambers Friday morning — even lining the upper balcony — as they waited for the first speakers on Edmonton’s food and agriculture policy.
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