An artist's rendering shows the original plans for a recreational lake at Coulee Ridge, which will now be made into a smaller storm pond.--SUPPLIED IMAGE
cgallant@medicinehatnews.com@CollinGallant
The company behind a south-end development billed as Medicine Hat’s first “lake community” now says in official documents it has changed its plans to be more of a “pond.”
That is in an area plan presented by Coulee Ridge Developments at Wednesday’s meeting of the municipal planning commission, a requirement of moving to next phases of the stand-alone community.
Company owner Rich Frontain says 26 homes are built or nearing completion in the first 44-lot phase, and he would like to see additional phases serviced as soon as next fall.
“We’re very excited to get going with it,” he told the News. “Builders have really embraced it.”
In it, the developer outlines feedback from early residents, general community and city staff about neighbourhood layout and servicing.
It gives general sequencing, as well as describes amenities which were promoted as a major selling feature.
Committee members questioned the change from a “recreational lake” in early marketing material – complete with natural filtration system to a smaller storm pond which would include more dryland recreation offerings.
“We revisited the concept of the lake itself, which was very water-centric, and found it really limited appeal for some,” said project manager Elise Harlick. “City staff were also not happy because of the lifecycle cost, and we’ve listened to that.”
Storm ponds are included in community planning to capture runoff.
Harlick said the plan is to include the pond, but add landscaping, appropriate vegetation and a “diverse” offering of recreation amenities.
“It’s good that we have agreement if we’re inheriting it,” Coun. Darren Hirsch, commission chair said, while thanking the applicant for what he called a thorough plan.
The current parcel would have space for 246 lots over 14 hectares (about 35 acres) of developable space that cozies up against coulees on two sides west of the main entrance on 10th Avenue.
The greater area north of S. Boundary Road, and south and west of Vista community, was proposed as the “complete neighbourhood” concept in the late 2000s by Medican Developments. That planning work is still on the books, though the development never advanced due to economic conditions and Medican’s financial trouble.
In 2019 however, the Coulee Ridge concept by a new development firm, encompassed only the northernmost portion, was heavily promoted and ground was even broken during initial stages of the pandemic.
MPC approved the plan and related zoning changes to allow low-density residential housing, sending them to council for final approval.
Planners also said the area, overlooking a bluff and the Seven Persons Creek coulee, isn’t well suited for townhouses or smaller lots, but future phases would have to include a variety of building types to meet proposed density in the overall area. The current phase has just 14 units per hectare, whereas more than 30 are called for once the whole area is built out.
