CLYDE — The Village of Clyde is looking to sell seven lots it owns at a combined asking value of $171,000 as they’re pushing for more development.
The properties — three commercial lots, one residential, and three R2, or multi-family residential — appeared in the village’s September newsletter, so they’ve already been advertised.
“We have had a few people coming in, inquiring about some of the properties that the village does own, as well as some of the other vacant properties in town. So we have had a little bit of interest, just high level questions at this point,” CAO Ron Cust told councillors at a Sept. 14 meeting.
They voted to move forward with negotiations with any interested buyers.
With this vote, administration will also start working with third parties like realtors and GROWTH Alberta for more exposure and development potential.
The village is already moving forward on the sale of one parcel at farmland market value, which will potentially see some industrial development. The negotiations are still ongoing, so council debated this in-camera, but deputy mayor Doug Nyal had some reservations when it came to voting.
“I still believe that we need to have a better understanding of what is planned to be developed on it,” he said. “Industrial property is a vast range of a lot of things and without knowing what is actually going to happen there, I have a little bit of an idea, I’ve had some conversations with the developer on it, but a conversation is nothing that gives us any assurances.”
Council approved the sale, but went back and forth on whether or not to add a second clause to the offer which would ask the developer for more concrete plans about the future of the parcel, or have a separate discussion with the developer.
Cust explained that asking these questions of any developer is “appropriate,” but Coun. Nat Dvernichuk feared that this is asking too much of the developer, who might back out if too many conditions are set.
“I’m just wondering, why don’t we just accept his offer and let the process take its course?” said Coun. Danielle Dillman.
Given that any development requires permits and council ultimately controls their issuance, councillors scrapped both the clause and the conversation and moved forward with the sale approval only.
“He’s willing to come into council anyway, so he’ll be coming to council with our permits and he’ll have a plan like other people have in the past,” said mayor Christa Clausing.
