By Sheldon Spackman

commercial competition cited

Lacombe wants proposed highway rest stop relocated

Jun 4, 2019 | 11:35 AM

The City of Lacombe wants the province to consider relocating a proposed roadside rest stop along the QE2 Highway.

The $20 million rest stop, announced in March by then-transportation minister Brian Mason, is slated for near Burman University (Wolf Creek area) at Lacombe’s north end.

Mason said the rest stop would give the 14,280 motorists and commercial carriers travelling southbound daily on that section of highway the opportunity to make a safe and convenient choice to rest when needed.

However, as the proposed rest area is to be “designed to accommodate possible future commercial opportunities, such as gas stations and restaurants,” Lacombe city council felt the project would put the province in direct competition with their own plans for commercial development along the highway, as part of their Inter-Municipal Development Plan (IDP) with Lacombe County.

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As a result, Lacombe City council voted last week to send a letter to Lacombe-Ponoka MLA Ron Orr and Infrastructure Minister Prasad Panda outlining their concerns, with hopes of having Lacombe County sign the letter before it is sent.

The letter states, “The Inter-municipal Development Plan (IDP) between the City of Lacombe and Lacombe County considers commercial opportunities that support mutually beneficial coordination and delivery of infrastructure and services that provide economic development and growth for both municipalities.”

It goes on to say, “In 2019, the City of Lacombe partnered with Lacombe County to invest more than $15M to service development within the IDP lands. A return on this public investment is critical to the long-term viability of our communities.”

The letter also notes there were no official consultations between the previous provincial government and the City of Lacombe around the proposed project, but during informal discussions the City did voice objections.

“Council would like to invite your administration to reconsider this development plan and relocate the planned Commercial Safety Rest Area to either Midway Centre or the City/County Joint Economic Area, near the QE II/Highway 12 interchange –where a $15M City/County joint servicing initiative is already underway.”

The letter concludes, “The developer has expressed interest in working with the Province to relocate the proposed commercial safety rest area within the Midway Centre area.”

Councilors also expressed desire the letter be sent to the premier and ministers of economic development and municipal affairs as well.