Chara seniors’ community stalled

By Sean Feagan, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

The planning wheels are turning once again for a new seniors housing development in Wheatland County, but the project is not moving yet because of the pandemic.

The Chara Seniors Community is a development proposal featuring independent living cottages and multi-living care homes, among other amenities, located next to Speargrass Golf Course Community, near Carseland. 

While Wheatland County council approved the area structure plan for the development in January, the project is on hold because of the pandemic, said Marcia Byma.

“I have no idea how this will unfold,” she said. “The pandemic has got me completely on hold now.”

The pandemic has prevented Byma from meeting with members of the public. 

“I couldn’t even meet with one individual, much less (hold) an open house,” she said.

Despite this, Byma is pursuing the necessary regulatory approvals for the development, including land redesignation.

Ultimately, the development could help close a gap in the availability of seniors housing in the county, said Matt Boscariol, Wheatland County’s general manager of community and development services. “There’s still quite a few more processes to undertake, but all in all, it’s looking positive for the development and for the county,” he said.

The development contains a variety of build forms, which will be considered in the land redesignation, he explained. “That’s innovative – there are site conditions that are unusual for a specific parcel site, specific regulations are required, and they will be captured within a bylaw.”

The development may result in benefits to Carseland and Speargrass, he added. “New developments bring cascading effects. At every phase, there are additional jobs, more traffic to the area and market opportunities.”