Edmonton’s Growth and demand for new communities in NE Edmonton

     Edmonton’s Growth and demand for new communities

   (why we need this to be developed)

 From 2006 to 2011, 82,000 more people called Edmonton home. The city is growing, and so is the demand for new neighbourhoods. Edmonton’s north east, or Horse Hill, is one area that will eventually be home to new neighbourhoods. The ASP (Area Structure Plan) is being developed to decide what these new neighbourhoods will eventually look like.

Developing this land into new communities isn’t a new idea, or a plan hatched overnight. This land was annexed into the City of Edmonton in 1982 for exactly that purpose, and growing this area has been a focus for the city. It is next to what will be a new industrial park called the Edmonton Energy and Technology Park. According to the City of Edmonton: “Comprehensive studies have made the case for developing an industrial cluster in the area known locally as Horse Hill. Such a development would take advantage of the significant economic opportunities available to Edmonton and the surrounding region from the oil sand developments in the north.

The City of Edmonton, along with its partners in Alberta's Industrial Heartland, recognize the huge potential for refining the by-products that are left over from oil sand production (known as residual feedstocks) into consumer and industrial products.” http://www.edmonton.ca/business_economy/edmonton-energy-and-technology-park.aspx

Edmonton Energy and Technology Park is expected to employ about 84,000 people. This is on top of the 6,000 people working in the nearby Alberta’s Industrial Heartland. Many of these people will want to live near their work, and proximity to neighbourhoods offering schools, shopping, transit, etc. will not only attract residents, but also employers. Companies will be more willing to set up a shop in an area that is somewhere its employees will be happy to live-and proximity to a vibrant, well-serviced neighbourhood will be an attractive selling point.

If Edmonton doesn’t make space available, you can bet neighbouring municipalities will develop neighbourhoods and welcome them with open arms. Not only will Edmonton miss out on this opportunity, it just doesn’t make sense to develop a business park for the city and then not develop neighbourhoods for the families it will attract.

Many of us have lived here all of our life, in some cases for generations. The annexation in 1982 impacted many families’ and business’ decisions, as it was evident this would one day be developed. Some landowners chose to cash in and sell to developers years and years ago. It would be very hypocritical for those same people to now oppose the plan, but in some cases that is what is happening.

As residents and landowners, NEEA supports the vision of the ASP and plans to develop this land. We are committed to staying involved in this process to make sure a balanced plan is created, that fairly reflects the needs of the City, and rights of property owners.