Lacombe County keeping environment at forefront of development approvals

About 50 per cent of the development has been protected as natural space, while keeping the footprint as minimal as possible, in addition to the amenities.

A cluster design such as The Slopes, says Freitag, is important because more people are wanting natural amenities, green space, and wetlands protected, as well as for it to be built in the same environment as the natural space.

“Being able to protect so much green space allows for the same amount of density, the same number of houses, but a smaller footprint for those houses and an ability to protect green spaces for the public to enjoy. We’re really starting to see a lot more demand for protection of the environment and the ability for people to live in harmony and with respect for the environment,” says Freitag. “This is a very good example of having a minimal footprint, with smaller lot sizes and ability to protect a large portion of the land for environmental features.”

Freitag says Lacombe County has worked for many years with its municipal partners in establishing a regional wastewater system around Sylvan Lake in hopes of ensuring as much septic as possible was being kept out of the lake. That way, development may occur around the lake while protecting the environment.

“Housing is a major issue in Canada and we have to make sure that we’re doing it more effectively and more efficiently, but still not doing it in a way that’s going to be negative to the environment, and The Slopes is a good example of that.”

For those concerned with increased development around bodies of fresh water, such as Sylvan Lake, Freitag says it’s important to note Lacombe County has a very high standard of development requirements for developers to meet.

“Anything that would be lakefront, we require already that they have to be 30 metres back from the lake, so realistically, there would be no development that would be, per se, ‘lakefront,’” says Freitag. “The ability to actually build right on the lakeshore is gone.”

Chris Artibello, owner and developer of The Slopes of Sylvan Lake, says the first few families will be moving in this spring.

“We have five houses and two villas out there currently, and of those, three will have families moving in June 1. Moving into one of the villas is a couple from Ontario, probably around July 15 once their unit is done. It’s been really good.”

Artibello adds that four new single family homes and two new villas will also be built this year.

“Then we’ll look to service another six to eight lots come fall,” he points out. “Probably by next summer, another 10 to 12 families in total will be living at The Slopes of Sylvan Lake.”

Artibello says they are leaders in implementing conservation by design, designating 25 acres of the development for housing and amenities, while the site’s other 25 acres will remain green space.

“The second big and most notable thing is that we just commissioned a water treatment plant, which we built. It’s a $2 million water treatment plant which can service up to 310 homes and has full fire flow,” he explains. “We’re the first one in the watershed to have that, to build our own infrastructure, with no septic tanks, and no water wells in our developments. We’re an estate lakeside community that has full urban amenities.”

More information is at theslopessylvanlake.com.

by Sheldon Spackman

Lacombe County keeping environment at forefront of development approvals

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