By Andrew de Souza

Second southeast annexation meeting set

Apr 25, 2011 | 6:14 AM

Questions about the proposed annexation and development in the south-east end of the city went unanswered in November, but the city is now hoping to answer them in a second public consultation session.

On May 5, the City of Prince Albert will once again be giving a presentation about the annexation. City manager Robert Cotterill said they’ll be answering the questions people brought up at the first meeting.

“They wanted to know a bit about future industrial areas that we’ve looked at. We’re ready to talk about that, what the costs are and why we’ve chosen the route that we’ve chosen,” he said.

At issue is approximately 338 acres south of Marquis Road and east of Sixth Avenue East that the city wants to annex from the R.M. of Prince Albert.

According to the city in documents released for the upcoming meeting (http://tinyurl.com/3pgr5w6 ), the city will only develop about one third or the 330 acres, specifically across from Prime Minister Park.

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The documents also support the idea that cost is the main factor for choosing the site.
Inside the report, it says other potential areas would simply be too costly and too time consuming, and therefore stifle growth because the city said it is almost out of industrial land.

As well, the documents outline some of the potential uses in the area, since noise, pollution and traffic were concerns put forward by residents. The documents show the city only plans on using the land for light industrial similar to development on the east side of 6th Avenue East.

The documents also says that while the council of the day only wants to develop the small portion of the area, plans can change with successive councils.

By law, the city doesn’t have to host public consultation meetings outside of official council public hearings.

Cotterill said that when it comes to things of this nature and size, extra consultation is needed.

“When you do something as radical as changing the boundaries of a city, it certainly has an impact on neighbourhoods, and people have a valid concern,” he said.

“We work for the people, and so (we) need to explain to them why we’re doing what we’re doing.”
The meeting will take place at the Carlton Park Community Club on May 5 at 5:30 p.m. The official city

hall public hearing of the annexation is expected to take place in June.

adesouza@panow.com