The Athabasca Regional Multiplex site is suitable to build for a new school, pool and library.
That is according to a site services report conducted at the request of the Aspen View Public School Division.
It was presented during a special school board meeting last Tuesday at the Multiplex, where Athabasca town council and Athabasca County council were invited to participate in discussing the report.
However, the project will require anywhere from $190,000 to $290,000 to fix some issues.
“There is $100,000 chip seal in the future and the possibility of widening (Township Road) 663. However, how it stands today, we can easily accommodate the buses,” Aspen View superintendent Mark Francis explained.
“Pedestrian access could require up to 300 metres of sidewalk that amounts to $90,000. We have an additional $190,000 in costs and potentially growing to $290,000.”
Francis continued, “As it stands today, the school could be built with those renovations in place. Section three of the site investigation report provided a response that the services that are at the property line are appropriately sized.”
This means there is enough power, water, sanitary and storm sewers to support a project of this size.
“What that says is that when we hook up, is there a water pipe big enough to handle the capacity? The answer to that was yes,” Francis said.
“The report also referenced a 2008 report that was commissioned by the town showing the main trunk lines were undersized and that a section of the trunk line on 50th Avenue from 49th to 47th Street should be reviewed with flow monitoring to determine if it needs to be replaced.”
The report also stated a section of trunk line is currently at 80 to 85 per cent capacity.
“However, the (new) report … indicates that the replacement school will not cause a significant net increase in sanitary flow to the 50th Avenue trunk or lift station,” Francis said. “However, because we are dealing with flows from two different hills, it would not require an upgrade at this point.”
Aspen View explained even though the report does not recommend an upgrade, it doesn’t mean one shouldn’t be discussed.
“We are not recommending that course of action; of course, when anything is at 80 to 85-per-cent capacity, the discussion may be around should it be upgraded,” Francis said.
“The report has indicated that you could, theoretically, not have to upgrade any services there.”
The report stated there is appropriate access for the school and pool facility.
“Currently, the road system is appropriate and, based on traffic volume and based on the wideness of the road, they are adequate,” Francis said.
The report does, however, recommend a traffic impact assessment.
“This would be done by Alberta Transportation. They would set a counting car up,” Francis said.
“However, they looked at a 1,000 capacity school, they looked at the current traffic volumes and they assume the current intersection, because it does have a turn lane, that it would be sufficient.”
At the time the report was conducted, Rotary Trail had not been completed.
“As of this meeting date, the trail is within 100 metres of the multiplex property and connects the multiplex site with all areas of Athabasca,” Francis said.
“A quote was provided by the Town of Athabasca for the addition of a 300 metre sidewalk from the Rotary Trail to the water reservoir, including wheel chair ramps, at a cost of $90,000.”
The report also looked at the need for work at the intersection of University Drive and Township Road 663.
“The report addressed this intersection as requiring upgrading if access to the new school and pool was to use the Multiplex from the driveway on Township Road 663,” Francis said.
“The county reviewed this intersection and roadway and deemed that it was up to the county’s standards and did not require any additional upgrading.”
Though, the future collector status of University Drive is a concern.
“The report addressed that University Drive will be a collector road in the future if additional development occurs in the area,” he said.
“There have been concerns at the steering committee about the condition of the road.”
Additional information was requested from Athabasca County’s transportation department and they recommended a future chip seal coat.
“The estimated cost to complete the chip seal was estimated at $100,000 by the county transportation department,” Francis explained.
