Ponoka County explores new development plans for Meridian Beach

PONOKA COUNTY -- Local residents are voicing their support for the continued development of Meridian Beach.

This comes after a public hearing held on Feb. 10 saw nearly two dozen residents in attendance, many of whom spoke in favour of proposed plans for Meridian Beach North. If approved, the plans would effectively redistrict 21.4 acres of land from Agricultural district to Lake Resort district to accommodate future subdivision of the property.

The original subdivision at Meridian Beach was approved in 2014 for 47 lots on either side of Canal Street. At that time, the County says that the applicant, Norval Horner of 'Inshore Developments', had included his intention to create a canal west of the lots on land under a license of occupation. Since that time, he has acquired the property in an exchange with the Provincial Government for property he owned south of the exiting Meridian Beach.

The latest application includes a new, slightly larger canal and an expanded area allowing for an additional 36 lots. He noted that the fully engineered infrastructure -- specifically, the water and sewer services -- were already oversized to accommodate up to 100 additional lots. During his presentation, Horner explained that Meadowbrook Road has been upgraded to highway standards and is currently in good condition. He noted that while the new proposal will not increase traffic on the back end of the subdivision, it will generate more traffic at the front.

Councillor Doug Weir acknowledged that the proposal represents "strong land utilization" but expressed concerns regarding the impact on surrounding residents, particularly with respect to increased traffic on Meadowbrook Road, noting that nearby farms have already experienced issues. CAO Peter Hall confirmed that most speeding violations last year occurred along that road.

During their presentation, the developer discussed the proposed area, which will feature public access to the beach, parking, canal access, pathways, as well as public washrooms. The design includes 47 lots on each side of Canal Street and another 36 lots west of Canal Street. Two parking areas are included in the plan, one west of the beach and one south of the canal for boats and canal access. 

The public commentary portion of the hearing saw several community members voice their support for the new development plans for the area. One resident talked about living at Meridian Beach has been a "life-changing experience", while another couple described the already developed area as "beautiful, safe, and well-managed". The lone member attendee to speak in opposition to the plans expressed concerns that the rezoning was "premature", citing a lack of public information and the potential financial impact on existing homeowners due to added infrastructure demands.