City releases updated plans for northwest industrial park

By COLLIN GALLANT on December 24, 2021.

cgallant@medicinehatnews.com@CollinGallant

Updated plans for a new industrial park in the city’s northwest would include a review zone including the Medicine Hat Speedway and other several facilities on city land operated by non-profit clubs.

Those groups initially objected to the “NW Industrial” park proposal in November stating it put their long-term viability in jeopardy after nearly 25 years operating on leased land from the city.

New documents including that feedback were posted Thursday on the city’s website.

They state that a planning overlay for the land could require the developer (the city’s land development office), to develop the southernmost 600 acres of the site before considering club locations for new heavy industrial zoning.

“Through this engagement process, we were able to obtain an improved understanding of clubs’ activities, operations and their contributions to the city,” reads the update.

It also suggests an overlay regulation could be in place, requiring the city to consider the effect on clubs while developing nearby land, and allow clubs to expand or change their property.

The Speedway, Drag Racing Association, Remote Control Flyers club, Rifle and Revolver Club and Medicine Hat Motocross Society, all operate on portions of two quarter-sections of land in question.

City officials stated in November when the southernmost portion of the six quarter-sections would be developed first. The final two parcels, on which the clubs are sited, would not be affected for years.

Initial plans include creating an 80-acre park in the corner of land adjacent to Box Springs Road and Broadway Avenue (which is the north boundary of the Box Springs Business Park).

It would offer serviced lots with the initial plan of providing spur-line rail access that could have a secondary access north of the park moving toward land north of Redcliff.

A joint municipal development plan calls for that area to be joint area of interest for future industrial growth. Logically, a rail line could then be extended to reconnect with the Canadian Pacific mainline west of the town.

The egress from the new city park however, would bisect the northernmost quarters, which could affect club operations if built.

The six quarter-sections were annexed in to the city’s limits in the late 1980s with the long-term plan of setting them aside for future industrial development.

Three years ago, council directed staff to provide potential timelines and cost estimates to provide standing inventory of serviced industrial land to aid new industrial customers.

Economic development officials have more recently said the parcels would be part of a larger strategy to promote hydrogen sector investment and related industry development.

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