Okotoks Town Council approved the Area Structure Plan (ASP) for the proposed Wind Walk Development on Monday.

A plan for the 144.66 acre area south of Highway 7 and east of Highway 783 has been in the works for about eight years now, and will finally come to fruition.

Jamie Dougdale, Town of Okotoks Planning Services Manager, says the approved ASP sets out basic high level planning frame work for the residential development.

"It sets out the broad transportation network, land uses, and how water and sewer will be provided to the Wind Walk plans," he says. "It's a residential plan with a small commercial node at the entrance off Highway 783, and some mixed use development there. It has quite a variety of land uses, so you'll see some townhouse development, single family, and perhaps some apartment and condominiums over time, there's also a school site planned."

The Wind Walk community will hold approximately 1,147 residential units proposed with 8.27 units per acre, all built on land recently annexed by the town.

Dougdale shares the town is now waiting on water licenses to provide for the community, as it will use Okotoks' water and sewage services.

"There's three or four water licenses that are in process, and we're hoping to get confirmation on in the next few weeks. That's going to give us enough water to allow for Phase One land use to occur in Wind Walk."

On July 20 council will hold another public hearing on Phase One land use bylaws, Dougdale says this means residents will more than likely see some earth moving on the land sometime this year.

"That's the bylaw that will actually apply land use to the Phase One area, and re-designate for R3, some commercial land, R1, and R1N to a portion of the land. After that the developer can start working on subdivision plans, and likely will want to start work on the ground late this summer or in the fall."

The lands in Wind Walk are owned, and are being developed by Alberta Foothills Properties Ltd.

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