Hazlett Lake, west of QEII ‘Centrepoint’ developments could progress in not-too-distant future

Initial development would add upwards of 2,000 homes to the area north of 11A, with a Major Area Structure Plan (MASP) and Neighbourhood Area Structure Plan (NASP) already in place. Those were approved around 2015, after the city had annexed the land from Red Deer County in 2009.

The Hazletts own additional land north of the initial development which isn’t yet part of the development conversation. The eastern boundary of the Hazletts’ land bisects the actual Hazlett Lake running north-south.

On the left: A red-shared area depicts the extent of Hazlett family-owned land east of the QEII Highway, where residential is planned; only the lower two-thirds (approximately) are part of the current Neighbourhood Area Structure Plan (NASP). The land bisects Hazlett Lake. On the right, a zoomed in map shows the land that is part of the current NASP and slated for development. The lake has been altered by rdnewsNOW to appear blue for visual purposes; again, the land in white directly north of the lake is also Hazlett-owned, and would be part of future development.

“If you drive by the site now, you’ll see preliminary grading being done. Coincidentally, the province is planning to widen the QEII north of 11A, and in doing that, there’s a railroad overpass about a half mile north of the intersection of 11A and the QEII that needs to be rebuilt. That project was awarded last year to Pidherney’s,” explains Russ Watson, NADG managing partner, Western Canada.

“As well, some of the fill material to complete the project is being removed from what will be phase one of our development. It was kind of a win-win; the province needed to fill, and we needed the preliminary grading done, so we worked together.”

According to Watson, shovels in the ground would mean finding the right partner builder to get things rolling.

As for underground servicing and infrastructure, the goal is 2028, with people moving in as early as 2029 or 2030.

“This is a long time coming. We hoped to be in the ground eight or nine years ago, but energy policies, the interest rate, and other external forces slowed Alberta’s growth, hitting Red Deer really hard,” says Watson.

“The North of 11A MASP is a very good plan, a smart plan, and a lot of thought went into it at the City. Our NASP is also very thoughtful, and provides a really good cross-section of more affordable single-family homes.”

Homes will help fill the gap that many in the sector are referring to as the “missing middle.”

The Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) describes the “missing middle” as ground-oriented housing types typically characterized by gentle- to medium-density. They include accessory suites, multiplexes, row homes, stacked townhouses, and low-rise apartments of four storeys or less.

These can also be described as family-friendly, or housing types long underrepresented in new supply — hence “missing.”

Watson also notes all development will leave the actual Hazlett Lake protected, and adhere to the province’s ‘Stepping Back from the Water‘ guidelines.

“Hazlett Lake will remain a natural habitat and water body after this development is fully built out,” he assures.

Looking at NADG’s portfolio, Watson approximates Hazlett Lake to what the company has partially accomplished with McKinley Beach in Kelowna, B.C. That development is slated for 1,300+ homes.

‘CENTREPOINT’

A figurative hop, skip and a jump across the QEII Highway: meet Centrepoint.

The term ‘power centre’ was repeatedly used when the City of Red Deer annexed from the County the roughly 200 acres of land for it in 2023.

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READ MORE

Dec. 2023: Land annexation for northwest Red Deer commercial ‘power centre’ approved by province
April 2023: City to annex County land to the north for regional ‘power centre’

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A south-facing map shows Hazlett-lake residential in yellow to the east of the QEII Highway, and a purple area shows the future Centrepoint commercial site west of the QEII. (Image Credit: NADG)

“This is a planned regional highway, regional commercial development. What’s unique about it is we have the Government of Alberta’s approval for a direct access off the southbound QEII into the site, with the major access being off of 11A. The site will accommodate major retail and highway commercial uses,” says Watson, adding that they look at it as somewhat Gasoline Alley-esque.

“Right now, it’s about finding the catalyst to start that development.”

Watson says the residential development on the east and the commercial to the west are not technically linked, but acknowledges that residential being built out could help attract one or more anchor tenants.

“Chicken and egg,” he likens it to, in terms of the search for an anchor tenant.

“It’s got much better visibility than CrossIron Mills, or other competing sites on the QEII; it’s probably one of the best underdeveloped commercial sites in all of Alberta. That’s a fact; it’s a spectacular and enviable site,” he says.

“I have no doubt in my mind we can fill the site with all sorts of uses, like restaurants, hotels, car dealerships, but it just needs that major player.”

WHAT ELSE IS NEXT?

The City of Red Deer says before homes can be built on the east, there are a couple things that need to happen.

Russ Watts, engineering services manager at the City of Red Deer, explains his team’s eyes are on it.

“In order to service the residential area, we have a couple projects in our off-site levy bylaw that we’d need to construct prior to housing coming on stream. We’re looking at starting design work as part of our budget submission for 2027,” he says.

“The key step for the developer right now is they’d do what we refer to as a servicing study, which would provide on-site design for the road network, the lots, and underground utilities. Once they do that, the next step is a subdivision development agreement, and that would show us they’re getting serious about the development.”

Subdivision does involve coming to city council for approvals, but Dave Girardin, acting manager of city planning and growth, says that as long as the requests follow the area structure plans’ parameters, they’re fairly straightforward.

“There really is reason to be excited. When the City looks at Hazlett Lake, and it being the first initiation of urbanized development north of Highway 11A, it starts to open up new tracts of land in the area, and Red Deer is in need of more housing,” says Girardin.

“Then the west side [and Centre Point], it just shows Red Deer is growing, and if and when that area builds out, it’ll mean the economy is doing well in Red Deer. If they have the confidence to build it out, it reflects the growth that is happening here.”

Girardin says the city has evidence of that growth happening as we speak, looking at things like increased zoning bylaw applications, and development permits.

Hazlett Lake would be the first development in Red Deer, north of the Red Deer River, since Johnstone Park in 2003. The MASP also provides multiple potential school locations, and a site for a community facility.

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READ MORE

April 2026: Red Deer home sales increase in March
Jan. 2026: As Alberta boasts record housing starts, minister lends Red Deer support with critical CMHC issue
Hazlett Lake brochure
Hazlett Lake Neighbourhood Area Structure Plan
Centrepoint brochure

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To learn more about Hazlett Lake, visit hazlettlake.ca.

by Josh Hall | @Vancan19

Hazlett Lake, west of QEII ‘Centrepoint’ developments could progress in not-too-distant future

HAZLETT LAKE

‘CENTREPOINT’

WHAT ELSE IS NEXT?

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