The petition against the Homestead Project and the Tiny Homes ecovillage has been deemed sufficient by Town administration.

A release from Legislative & Policy Services Manager Cathy Duplessis' office says that of the 3,167 signatures submitted, 2,981 were verified and approved, above the required 2,900 to meet the threshold of a sufficient petition.

The petition was started and circulated by the Okotoks Ratepayers Community Group. Their specific goal was to halt ratepayer funds being used to fund the project. They had 60 days from the May 27 passing of the motion to collect the signatures.

Ryan Nix, co-founder of the ORCG says he's pleased with the results.

"We're happy with the results! It did end up being very close, which really shows that every signature matters," he said. 

The result of the petition means Council must now choose between withholding ratepayer funds from the project, or seeking public support of the development by triggering a town-wide plebiscite.

Council members have until Monday to review the release ahead of the next meeting, at which point they will discuss the results of the petition.

The Homestead Project's approval was always contingent upon successful negotiations of a land lease between the Town and Realize Communities, the non-profit headed by Tiny Homes developer Thomas Grenier.

The petition's results do little to change the unlikely fate of the Homestead Project. A release from Grenier last week indicated that Realize had already begun looking at other municipalities to partner with in light of the petition and new financial limitations imposed by Council on the land lease negotiations. 

The ORCG sprouted up as a result of resident dissatisfaction with Town Council in light of their passing of the project.

A delegation from the group is planning to speak to Council at the August 19 meeting to address the petition. 

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