Council approves downtown expropriations

After nearly seven hours of testimonials from residents, pleas from business owners and debate between Wood Buffalo municipal councillors and city planners, Fort McMurray’s city council made what could go down as a historic decision Tuesday evening to move forward with the expropriation of seven downtown properties and make room for a world-class sports and entertainment complex.

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Council to face opposing sides of expropriation issue

One of the city’s most controversial and fiercely debated issues over the past couple months will come to a head at Tuesday’s Wood Buffalo’s municipal council meeting.

In the wake of the Oil Sands Hotel’s recent demolition, council will make a decision on whether to give the green light on municipal expropriation of seven more properties that will ultimately be leveled to make room for a proposed downtown sports and entertainment complex.

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Edmonton council looking to restart troubled City Centre Airport expropriation process

EDMONTON – After a previous attempt failed to get off the ground, Edmonton is looking at relaunching its move to expropriate the City Centre Airport.

City council agreed last October to go ahead with the process as part of plans to turn the 217-hectare site into an environmentally sustainable community for up to 30,000 residents.

Read more: http://tinyurl.com/bayjxtl

 

Land Expropriations in the RMWB

At the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo (RMWB) council meeting on November 27, 2012, Mayor Melissa Blake and council voted to allow RMWB administration to proceed with land expropriation as necessary in the downtown core to allow for plans to revitalize the city centre to come to fruition. Expropriation is the means by which a municipality can purchase land for fair market value even if the landowner has refused to sell and if negotiations for the property have stalled. According to RMWB Executive Director of Community Development Carol Theberge this is not a decision made lightly or easily.

Read more:  http://tinyurl.com/b3cu8gd    

Whitemud Park not amused about expropriation plans

EDMONTON – Owners of the Whitemud Amusement Park worry mini-golfers and go-kart drivers could be out of luck next summer if council moves quickly to expropriate land for the southeast LRT.

They came to city hall Monday to ask for help finding new real estate – the permission to remain open through summer 2013 and help finding a similar piece of land for the future.

Read more:  http://tinyurl.com/bodobga