A Parkland Community Planning Services study undertaken for the town was presented to Bentley town council at their Feb.12 meeting.
Planner Jolene Tejkl explained the Land Supply and Future Growth Potential Study suggests the town has the potential for continued slow growth, based on past history.
Alberta grew in population just over two per cent from 1996-2001, from 2001-06 and from 2006-11. The Red Deer region’s growth was lower, with less than two per cent for each of those time periods.
Growth rates for Bentley over the same time were lower than both the provincial and the Red Deer region trends with 1.32 per cent from 1996-2001, 1.15 per cent from 2001-06 and 0.69 per cent from 2006-11.
The national trend is toward smaller household sizes. Since Bentley already has smaller than average household sizes, projections are that sizes will continue to remain close to the 2011 average of 2.4 people per household. The largest population group is between the ages of 25 to 64, according to Bentley’s last municipal census.
The study indicates there is enough land annexed for residential development to meet demand well beyond 2042.
Not the same with commercial. The study indicates there is enough land serviceable for commercial development to meet demand until 2021.
Land available for industrial development is projected to be good up to and beyond 2042.
Tejkl reminded council that these are only projections based on past history and things can change so updates to this study should be done regularly.
There was talk of the possibility of needing highway commercial land once the highway realignment goes through. Town CAO Elizabeth Smart and council feels there will be increased interest in locating to Bentley once the Highway 12 project is completed because it will offer easy and quick access in all directions.
Also at the meeting, a cost of living increase of 1.2 per cent was approved for the town salary grid and for remuneration and expense rates.
Council also confirmed membership with PAMZ (Parkland Airshed Management Zone) for another year at a cost of $416 based on population. They have been long-time supporters of the group that continues to monitor air quality.
