South Coaldale residential development concept approved

By Stan Ashbee
Sunny South News

According to a recent media release, the Town of Coaldale will be seeing substantial investment into one of its central residential neighbourhoods this year.

Town council recently approved an Area Structure Plan (ASP) amendment in south Coaldale that will allow for more diverse housing options in the neighbourhood.

“Commercial and industrial growth in Coaldale has outpaced residential growth substantially over the past year, so it’s great to see interest in more residential development,” said Spencer Croil, director of Planning and Development at the Town of Coaldale. “This new development will bring a variety of housing types to people at different stages in their lives, supporting residents with different needs and means within the community.”

It was noted in the media release, the developer for the south Coaldale parcel has incorporated a mix of housing options in the development concept, including low-rise apartments, townhouse-style row housing, single detached dwellings and a parcel set aside for a seniors’ residence. The development concept was refined over several months through a robust engagement process.

“It was important for us to consider the local context when putting together the development concept for south Coaldale,” said developer Garry Renkema. “We wanted to meet the needs of the town, while incorporating the stakeholder feedback we collected over the months-long engagement process. The development will bring high-quality infill development to the town that will attract new investment and more residents to Coaldale.”

“The south Coaldale development aligns with the residential goals outlined in the town plan, which was approved in 2020 after an intensive community consultation process,” added Croil. “The development will not only bring new seniors’housing; it will reflect more diverse housing forms that will appeal to a broader population and help provide a range of densities that will be designed to fit with the character of the neighborhood.”

It was pointed out in the media release, the developer will work with the town to provide an east-west connection between 17th and 13th Streets to improve connectivity and support the grid road network encouraged by the town plan. The developer will also be required to contribute to the re-development of 17 Street south of 24 Avenue. Transportation network upgrades will also incorporate active modes accommodations that connect to the town’s existing pathway system.

“The south Coaldale development will help to accommodate the increasing demand for new housing we’ve seen over the past several years,” stated Croil. “With Cottonwood Estates getting to its last phase and building out quickly, we’ve been fortunate to see continued investment interest from developers and look forward to seeing Coaldale continue to grow as a community of choice.”