FORMERLY THE ROCKY VIEW FIVE VILLAGE WEEKLY
Volume 35, Number 29	OFFICIAL NEWSPAPER FOR THE MD OF ROCKY VIEW #44	Tuesday, July 15, 2008
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Irricana development proposal back on track
Enrique Massot

A major residential development in Irricana is back on track after council rescinded a previous decision denying a one-year time extension of subdivision approval.

"We are delighted," said Victor Spaetgens, president of Westmont Developments Ltd., at an open house held Thursday at Irricana’s KIK centre. "We will do everything we can to get this project moving this year."

On June 2, council unanimously rescinded its Feb. 25 decision, based on new information.

"Council has now received information confirming that the Town’s former CAO, Jo-Anne Lambert, had received the plans for subdivision for the Saddle Creek subdivision in Dec. 2006," the motion read.

Saddle Creek Developments Inc. is proposing to build 137 residential units, 55 multi-family units and a one-acre commercial space on 42 acres owned by Westmont in the southern end of Irricana.

In November 2007, the developer requested a one-year extension from the Town to submit its plan for subdivision, citing unexpected delays.

In February, council rejected the request, forcing the developer to submit a new application for subdivision.

Mayor Frank Dusome said council, in spite of its desire to encourage new development in Irricana, had become concerned with the developer’s repeated changes and delays since the project’s beginnings in early 2006.

"We had lost faith in Saddle Creek at that time," he said.

Council had also become concerned by mounting costs in engineering consultants, staff time, legal counsel and other expenses.

"We had spent tens of thousands of dollars on that project," said Dusome.

However, after council’s February decision, the developer told the Town that it had, in fact, filed a plan for subdivision in December 2006, making the November 2007 time extension request unnecessary.

Backing up the developer’s claim, former chief administrative officer Jo-Anne Lambert had provided an affidavit stating that she had indeed received the plans for subdivision, Dusome said.

"She had signed a legal document for Saddle Creek saying she had received the plans back in 2006," he added.

Dusome said council had not been notified in 2006 that Saddle Creek had filed such documents. Carol White, who became chief administrative officer in May 2007, said she has been unable to locate any trace that such documentation had been provided to the town in the past.

However, White confirmed that a plan for subdivision had been provided to the town after February.

Dusome said legal counsel advised the Town that it would face a long and costly legal battle if it rejected Saddle Creek’s claim.

"That forced our council to overturn our decision of Feb. 25," he said.

On Thursday, Spaetgens told about 20 residents attending Saddle Creek’s open house that a "misunderstanding" with the town had resulted in a six-month delay to the development.

"I am very pleased to say that we are moving forward now," he said.

However, he said, it would be challenging to get contractors back on track late in the season.

Spaetgens also spoke about project delays in 2006 and 2007.

"The subdivision did not get circulated until after the fall, and subsequently we did not receive approval for subdivision until October 2006," he said.

But Dusome said after the open house that the Town had not caused delays on the project’s approval.

In 2007, Spaetgens said, "we were hoping to get going on that spring".

"But there were some challenges, and details. Things did not seem to go right for us."

After concluding his presentation, Spaetgens said he would not answer verbal questions from the public or the media. He said he would only answer questions submitted in writing.

"I really just wanted to deliver my information, which I have done now," he said. "I would invite you, if you have some questions, to write them down and I have to get back to you on that."

Spaetgens and Bill Bennett, as members of Bennett & Spaetgens Capital Partners Inc., have been campaigning to raise $13.5 million from private investors, to fund their Irricana project.

Spaetgens said the 42-acre property has been appraised at $22.15 million by Irricana-based Richard Sieben, with Anadyr Property Appraisals (2007) Inc.

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