Town council has taken the first step to paving the way for a businessman to go ahead with a planned development in Rimbey.
At its regular meeting Jan. 14, council gave first reading to the BRIX Area Structure Plan that includes approximately 61 acres of land in the southwest corner of Rimbey.
A public hearing is scheduled for Feb. 11 at 7 p.m. in the council chambers.
Developer Steffen Olsen, who owns BRIX Construction, has plans to develop the land in three phases and hopes to go ahead with the residential phase this year.
Olsen is looking at developing six lots suitable for single-family dwellings.
The other two phases of the development would include space for commercial and industrial growth.
The developer, who is well known in Rimbey, is pleased and excited to move ahead with the project.
“Rimbey has the potential for growth,” he said, noting it is in the centre of a thriving mixed farming and oil and gas region. He also noted it is the gateway to recreational opportunities and is close to Sylvan Lake, Gull Lake and Pigeon Lake.
Olsen noted that several years ago a sizable parcel of land was annexed from Ponoka County. He said annexing the land showed foresight and helped pave the way for developers such as himself to allow the town to expand.
“From what I understand we are the only community (in the area) that has this much land available.”
The structure plan identifies key issues such as land use, servicing, aesthetic design, transportation network and municipal reserve issues.
Rimbey CAO Tony Goode said several meetings have been held with the developer.
“They have gone very smoothly and he (Olsen) has been most co-operative.”