Cochrane continues to grow while others stall
January 17, 2011
Brad Herron Cochrane Times
Cochrane saw 422 new dwellings added to the community in 2010, a nine per cent increase from the 2009 numbers and a positive sign for the municipality, says the Town of Cochrane Chief Administrative Officer. CAO Julian deCocq said the new dwelling statistics, which went from 386 in 2009 to 422 in 2010, point to sustained growth in the Town of Cochrane, something that is very positive news when other communities have stagnant growth.
That type of growth should continue in 2011, deCocq said, as developers in Cochrane continue to move forward with subdivisions on all corners of the community. This includes the remediation and eventual development of the former-Domtar site by Springwood, continued development in Sunset Ridge and Heritage Hills, the construction of homes in the new Fireside development on Cochrane's southwest border, completion of the River Heights Area Structure Plan for southeast Cochrane and a revival of the former-TRC Ranche development that has sat vacant and un-used since the former developer went into receivership. Even the controversial redevelopment of the former-trailer park - residents were evicted from the site more than three years ago and no development has since occurred - by Pointe of View is creeping forward after lengthy delays. "There is at least a little light at the end of the tunnel," deCocq said.
The CAO also expects some type of resolution on the joint planning area - called Area B - between the Town and the County of Rocky View that will allow residential development to go forward in the area."The County and the Town will resolve how to deal with Area B shortly," he said. deCocq said the largest segment of growth in Cochrane has been single-family homes, as that is what the market is dictating at the moment. In the past few years, developers in Cochrane have built many condominium-style dwellings, suppressing the market for more. The market for single-family homes is still robust in Cochrane, deCocq said. But the Town of Cochrane is not wavering from its plan for denser neighbourhoods, something that has been laid out in the Municipal Development Plan.
"We aren't just catering to one group," he said. "Our plans clearly identify the mix we need to achieve, so while we may see less-dense development today, the plans still call for higher densities as we move forward," he said.
