The 2014 development permit numbers for Westlock and Westlock County are in and they are a mixed bag.
While residential permits in town were lower than recent years, they still made up more than half of the $6 million in predicted development expenditure.
“The numbers aren’t as important to us as what the permits are for,” said town CAO Dean Krause. “2014 was good year as far as growth goes and our assessments increased at a higher value than it has in the past several years.”
Last year, 99 development permits were issued in Westlock, 44 for them were just for commercial signs.
Overall it was a drop of 10 from 2013 numbers, but when the increased signage applications are factored in, the total number is much lower than previous years.
“We were very proactive of signage enforcement for 2014, so that’s where our number may have increased,” said Simone Wiley, director of development services for the town.
Issues with a new Southview development have meant that residential construction in that neighbourhood did not occur, but the town is working with a private developer and hopes that the space south of 99 Street will have infrastructure and perhaps even houses by mid-2015.
There are also plans to release more lots in the Aspendale Stage 3 development, at the east end of town.
“We are right now developing a concept plan for Aspendale 3, along with servicing drawings,” Krause said.
While the town’s preference is for private developers to make lots available, there is will to release municipal land for that purpose if it’s required.
“You have to have land available for residential development because this council and this administration is really growth focused,” Krause said. “In the absence of private land development, council is getting prepared for the town to develop lots, if necessary, to insure we have the ability to grow.”
Commercial and industrial development was limited with two new constructions, 13 improvements and four redevelopments.
While technically spanning 2013 and 2014, the two biggest commercial or industrial projects were the Smokin’ Wands carwash and improvements to the Westlock Terminals.
Development permit applications in Westlock County were stable in 2014.
Year-on-year the numbers dipped slightly from 134 in 2013 to 132 last year.
“There was the peak starting ‘07, ‘08 and ‘09, everybody was sub-dividing and then selling their acreages,” said Laurie Strutt, the manager of planning and development for Westlock County.
“There was a big demand but we have leveled off in the last three years or so,” she said.
Subdivisions were up slightly from 39 to 41 and the majority were attributed to acreage developments.
“People want to live on an acreage, people want to live in the country, a lot of people just want that country living,” Strutt said. “They don’t want a neighbour living beside them.”
The total declared value of development permits for the County was just under $21.4 million.
The majority of permits issued by the county were for residential/farm use at 113 and there were six commercial, five recreational and eight institutional development permits granted.
Strutt also noted that an application permit might have more than one proposal on it, meaning it could included a residence, garage or out buildings.
The largest projects in dollar value were for campgrounds.
“We have had three campgrounds, so people taking their quarter, or two quarters, and their going to develop a campground and not particularly by a lake or anything but just in the nature,” Strutt said.
One application, for a trucking business, was rejected after local residents raised concerns.
The permit application came in the fall, and the Subdivision & Development Appeal Board denied the permit last month.
“It went to the appeal board and they upheld the appeal, so that permit is not allowed now,” Strutt said.
