By Sheldon Spackman

Public Consultation Planned

Proposed RV resort at Buffalo Lake remains on hold while mediation process continues

Feb 20, 2021 | 9:46 AM

A small step has been taken towards painting a clearer picture for the possible future development of an RV resort on the south shore of Buffalo Lake, northwest of Stettler.

On Feb. 19, the County of Stettler, Summer Village of Rochon Sands and Summer Village of White Sands announced they have mutually agreed to move towards public consultation with the intent of replacing the Buffalo Lake South Shore Intermunicipal Development Plan (BLSSIDP).

Additionally, officials say the County of Stettler has developed and presented an Area Structure Plan (ASP) to a mediation committee, which outlines future use of County of Stettler lands, and has presented options for what the Summer Villages could institute to replace the BLSSIDP.

An ASP is a detailed document which proposes a sequence of development for an area, the future land uses, the density of population, the general location of transportation and public utilities.

The proposed ASP would be expected to guide the County’s future development along the south shore of Buffalo Lake and release all three members from the current BLSSIDP.

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“The County of Stettler continues to invest, trust in and follow the BLSSIDP mediation process alongside our municipal neighbors at the Summer Village of White Sands and the Summer Village of Rochon Sands,” says Larry Clarke, Reeve for the County of Stettler, in a joint release. “We believe we are all responsible, as municipal leaders, to foster the future development of the south shore of Buffalo Lake. Recreation in Alberta is at a premium, especially in the midst of the current COVID pandemic.”

“So many families are looking to recreate safely within our provincial borders, and our goal is to provide for safe, responsible, sequential development which will allow and support access for all,” adds Clarke. “We look forward to obtaining feedback on our draft Area Structure Plan to determine how we may best move forward.”

“The Summer Village of White Sands is moving ahead with the mediation and is waiting for the framework for public consultation to be completed for White Sands to present to their ratepayers,” says Lorne Thurston, Mayor, Summer Village of White Sands.

“After a productive mediation process, the Summer Village of Rochon Sands is eager to proceed with our surrounding municipalities in developing Area Structure Plans (ASP) that will ensure a prosperous future for all people,” notes Dan Hiller, Mayor, Summer Village of Rochon Sands.

Next steps include:

• The County of Stettler proceeding towards developing a comprehensive public participation plan and input gathering process for County of Stettler landowners and residents to review and revise the County’s proposed Area Structure Plan.
• Sharing the ASP with the Buffalo Lake Intermunicipal Development Plan partners, including Lacombe County and Camrose County
• Sharing ASP with County of Stettler South Shore Community Association Executives and commercial lake developments to obtain initial input in order to develop a public consultation plan
• Consultations will help inform and further prepare presentation materials for the public
• The Summer Village of Rochon Sands will develop an independent but complementary public consultation process with residents and landowners of the Summer Village of Rochon Sands.
• The Summer Village of White Sands will develop an independent but complementary public consultation process with residents and landowners of the Summer Village of White Sands.

Meantime, the BLSSIDP mediation committee meets again March 11 and 12.

Opportunities for the general public to provide feedback to their respective municipal councils is anticipated in the weeks following the March mediations.

In 2020, councils for all three municipalities engaged in mediation, Stage 4 of the dispute resolution process as outlined in the BLSSIDP.

Mediation was recessed on Sept. 25, 2020 to allow all parties to appropriately review current plans, look towards the future and allow time for a consultant for the County of Stettler to complete an Area Structure Plan, which was reviewed by the mediation committee in January, 2021.

According to County officials, developers of the proposed RV resort (formerly known as Paradise Shores) had originally requested 750 lots, but the BLSSIDP restricts the density of units at the proposed site to 168 – rendering the project as no longer viable for the developer.

The proposed resort is planned to contain sprinkler parks, water slides, water obstacle courses, sport courts and playgrounds among other amenities.