St. Albert Minute: Developer Concerns, Budget Begins, and Two Major Projects

St. Albert Minute - Your weekly one-minute summary of St. Albert politics

This Week In St. Albert:

• There will be an organizational meeting of City Council on Tuesday at 1:00 pm to address the 2024-2025 Council Committee Calendar. Immediately following the organizational meeting, there will be a Special City Council meeting to discuss the 2025 Budget and planning process. Also on Tuesday, at 6:30 pm, there will be a Community Services Advisory Committee meeting. The agenda includes a review of outside agency grant guidelines.
  
  
• A meeting of the Arts Development Advisory Committee, originally scheduled for Wednesday, is cancelled. But, Council’s Committee of the Whole will meet at 1:00 pm to continue the budget discussion started during the Special City Council meeting. On Thursday, the Environmental Advisory Committee will meet at 6:00 pm to discuss an Energy Efficiency Programs Update, among other items.
  
  
• Developers are voicing concerns about the Land Use Bylaw, particularly about limitations on zero-lot-line (ZLL) homes, which allow homes to be built on the property line. They argue that restrictions artificially limit the market and may drive buyers outside of St. Albert. Developers are also advocating for narrower townhomes and changes to garage size and parking requirements.

Last Week In St. Albert:

• Council approved a $62.7 million infrastructure project to develop the Lakeview Business District. The project includes upgrading roads, constructing a sanitary lift station, and extending key arterial roads. To fund the development, Council also approved the first reading of a borrowing bylaw for up to $78.4 million, with repayment primarily coming from off-site levies and municipal taxes.
  
  
• City staff warned that funding projects in both the northeast and west-end could push the City beyond its debt limits, as Council considered a $70 million sewer upgrade for the northeast area. The northeast project would include a lift station and trunk line to support future development. While some Councillors expressed caution, others, like Councillor Wes Brodhead, said there is a need for bold action to accommodate the City’s growth. A public hearing and further discussions are planned for November.
  
  
• Samantha Williams-Chapelsky from St. Albert has been appointed as Alberta’s fifth Artist-in-Residence, serving as the Province's cultural ambassador for one year. Her work, focused on abstract landscapes inspired by Alberta's natural beauty, has been showcased in galleries worldwide and is part of the Alberta Foundation for the Arts' permanent collection. With a grant of up to $50,000, Williams-Chapelsky will create 100 paintings across the province, culminating in an exhibition at the end of her term on September 30th, 2025.

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