Homestead development expands Lyalta border

Times Reporter 

 

A strong contingent of residents and developers plead with Wheatland Council, to consider approving second and third reading of  a rezoning of  land to hamlet general residential, for the Homestead development project adjacent to Lyalta. The total phases would increase the hamlet by 434 homes, but the initial first phase would be 103 residences. It is to be located on the east side of Lyalta, and pending agreements, it would become part of the Lyalta hamlet.

Recent development in the area has presented problems with water and sewer management. Pat Maloney, the development planner representing the developer said that by approving the rezoning, this project could offer solutions for the whole area.

“For the last two years we have been looking for solutions, establishing partnerships and waiting for market improvement, to go ahead with this project,” said Maloney.

The developers plan to use as much of the existing infrastructure as possible, tying into existing pipeline networks and getting water supplies from WID, utilizing the  Muirfield water treatment facility for purification. 

They plan to set up a sewage pipeline that would connect with Muirfield sewer pipes and pump all the sewage to a sewage lagoon, until development in the area could support a sewage treatment plant. The lagoon would be situated further east, away from the residential area. Two storm water evaporation ponds would also be designated for the area. Cattleland has shown interest in using the lagoon sludge and farmers are being contacted about effluent irrigation. 

“We believe this solves a lot of problems and prepares the area for further expansion,” said Maloney.

Councillor Ken Sauve said that he was not in favour of sewer lagoons and effluent irrigation and felt there were more advanced ways of dealing with sanitary treatment.

“There are better systems available now,” said Sauve. “If we don’t consider the better systems, we are doing the residents of the county a disservice.”

Brian Lee of Lee Mayer Engineering , engineer consultant for the project, has extensive background in sewer management systems and he said that mechanical sewer treatment systems are often thought to be superior to sewage lagoons, but for smaller than 10,000 people it was not really true. 

The County had been looking into some new bio-solid treatment solutions that eliminated the need for effluent distribution. Some of the councillors had reservations that all the problems for the area could be solved by a simple sewage lagoon. Looking to the past, they were convinced all the checks and balance were in place for the Muirfield development, until contracts fell through and problems started to emerge. They were looking for more concrete assurances that a similar situation would not occur again. 

“We are fortunate we have a developer that is adapting to the growth node in the area. Let’s work collectively on this. It is a win-win-win situation. Don’t let the past affect the future,” said Jim Souza of the Muirfield Development.

Maloney presented 35 residents letters supporting the project and other residents spoke in council chambers. Will and Genolee Coutts expressed their support and desire for the community to grow and others expressed a hope for schools, fire services and more community members in the area.

Councillors were also concerned about the safety ramifications for housing  adjacent to  gas wells in the area. Planners said in their talks with the gas companies, residential setbacks from gas wells only had to be 100 metres from property lines. This could be decreased under special circumstances to 50 metres, so they felt at 100 metres there should be no problems with residences close to the gas wells

Developers said that the rezoning was essential to get funding in place and move forward to developing an Area Service Plan, and council would have a chance for more deliberation when those specifics were presented at a future date.

The second and third readings were approved with Councillor Ken Sauve in opposition.