By rdnewsNOW Staff

Conditional Sale

Ponoka council accepts offer to purchase surplus land

Mar 29, 2021 | 3:24 PM

Ponoka town council passed a motion at its regular meeting on March 23, confirming its intent to sell one acre of surplus land located just south of the Ponoka Drop-In Centre that currently contains the town cenotaph.

In accordance with the Town’s Land Disposition Policy, council conditionally accepted an offer for the one-acre parcel of land at 5015 46 Avenue in the amount of $100,000 from 2313895 Alberta Ltd., with the purchaser required to cover the costs associated with moving the cenotaph.

Town officials say the sale of the one-acre parcel of land is conditional on the execution of a sale and construction agreement between the Town and 2313895 Alberta Ltd. That agreement is expected to outline a process and requirements that the purchaser must fulfill before the sale can be completed.

The agreement, which is being prepared by the Town’s solicitor, will be reviewed by the Town and the purchaser, and then brought back to council for endorsement. The Town received formal interest in purchasing the property in July 2020.

“This was a tough decision for council,” said Ponoka Mayor Rick Bonnett, in a press release. “Council voted in favour of it because our community needs new development that will bring in new tax dollars and increase our assessment base to help cover the ongoing cost of infrastructure maintenance and replacement.”

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“The latest provincial budget showed us that the government is shouldering an $18 billion deficit, and our provincial grant funding is being cut by 25 per cent. That’s likely just the beginning of the tough times that lay ahead,” added Bonnett.

The conditional land sale is for one acre of the 1.5 acres that council had declared surplus, leaving remaining land that can continue to be used as park space going forward, said Bonnett. The 1.5 acres is zoned for Institutional and Public Uses (IPU).

“Growth and development is what makes towns thrive and become better able to create new quality of life improvements for their citizens,” remarked Bonnett.

He further noted the Town continues to expand and enhance its parks and trails system. As examples, he pointed to the enhancements being made to the Tractor Park in downtown Ponoka, the newly redesigned Central Park near the downtown, and the new one-acre Old Hospital Rotary Park near the Ponoka Civic Centre.

“The Town is also in the early stages of developing a new design for Ponoka’s skateboard park that would see it potentially expand into the space where the former recycling depot is located downtown. The Town is also in the early stages of designing a new civic square on the old Town Hall site which would incorporate empty lots adjacent to that site,” shared Bonnett.

Pursuant to Section 231 of the MGA, electors may submit a petition with respect to Council’s resolution on the sale of the one-acre portion of Block 1, Plan 862 1472 – 5015 46 Avenue.

If a sufficient petition is received, council must either resolve not to proceed with the proposed resolution, or submit it to a vote of electors within 90 days after the Chief Administrative Officer determines the petition to be sufficient. If a sufficient petition is received, council’s motion to sell the land will be rescinded. If a sufficient petition is not received, council can proceed with the conditional land sale.

Detailed instructions on how to complete a valid petition are available at https://www.alberta.ca/petition-information-for-electors.aspx.

You can also contact the Town Office for a copy of ‘Petition to Council: Information for Albertans, Elected Officials and Municipal Officers’.

Petitions may be received until 1 p.m. on May 18, 2021 at the Town Office: 200, 5604-50 Street, Ponoka, Alberta, T4J 1G5.