Title: Landrex Ventures' Proposal for a New Campus-Style Recreation Facility in St. Albert

On Monday, city council meeting attendees were treated to a lively discussion about where to locate a new campus-style recreation facility in St. Albert. The debate revolved around three options presented by the city: two involving land donated by local developers and one owned by the city.

One of the proposals put forth by Landrex Ventures suggests locating the facility on their land in Erin Ridge North. Rohit Land Development has also offered to donate a plot west of Ray Gibbon Drive, north of the Lakeview Business District. The third option involves 71 acres of city-owned land east of where Ray Gibbon Drive meets Villeneuve Road.

While some speakers explicitly supported Landrex's proposal, including Morinville-St. Albert Public Schools, other community groups remained impartial as long as the facility could meet their needs. Active Communities Alberta (ACA) has been advocating for a non-profit recreation facility and signed a non-binding memorandum of agreement with the city in June 2018.

According to ACA president Matt Bachewich, the organization's offer to 'save taxpayers millions' by running the facility without taxpayer subsidies is still on the table. The agreement outlined plans for the city to contribute $20 million towards the project, while ACA would secure $10 million each from federal and provincial funding. A decision on location is crucial for securing this funding.

'Council's decision to seek out land for campus-style community amenities is an important step forward,' Bachewich said.

The hearing schedule for Landrex Hunter Ridge has been rescheduled for February 2021, following the initial postponement in December 2020. The public will have another opportunity to weigh in on this proposal and provide input on where the facility should be located.

Landrex board view download