Airdrie approves new lake community

Lanark to house nearly 3,300 residents

Airdrie has approved the first phase of a neighbourhood structure plan in the city's southeast that will be the future home for nearly 3,300 residents.

Dubbed Lanark, the lake community will be located on a 66-hectare parcel of land south of Ravenswood and east of King's Heights and feature more than 1,200 units.

Developer Melcor Development envisions Lanark becoming Airdrie's first fresh-water lake community.

"Stage one is part of an overall greater vision that encompasses two quarter sections to the east in the annexation area which is a fresh-water lake community," said development manager Alan Boucher, whose company has also overseen the development of King's Heights.

"We're really excited to get this amenity going. It's going to be about a 12-acre (five-hectare) lake with a two-acre (0.8-hectare) community centre and beach area."

The lake will be independent of storm-water management, notes Boucher. Much like Mahogany or Lake Bonavista, it will also be a private amenity serving homeowners through association dues.

Melcor named Lanark after sister city Lanarkshire, Scotland. In addition to the lake, the community will feature a green street concept where walking paths connect to southeast Airdrie and a centralized park system.

Future plans also call for an elementary school.

Stage one will see a broad range of low- and medium- density housing options, with 75 per cent a combination of single-detached front-drive and laned homes, as well as semi-detached units.

Boucher said Melcor will promote six different product types, from starter street towns to single-family houses, as well as semi-estate style housing.

"Looking at the bigger picture, it's more balanced," he said. "Melcor's vision is to make it an inclusive community so that people can live and grow in the same community through all stages of life, whether they're starting a family or downsizing – even lower-income individuals who may not have the opportunity to buy a single-family house."

To accommodate the additional traffic as a result of the development, council approved the expansion of 40th Avenue S.E. that connects to Sharp Hill Way. Construction is expected to begin in 2017.

Airdrie says 100 per cent of King's Heights and Ravenswood and 75 per cent of Lanark could be developed before traffic concerns become an issue.

Melcor will seek city approval on utility plans next year before starting stage two and the fresh-water lake portion of Lanark.

Despite a slowing economy, Boucher said his company is committed to Airdrie for the long haul.

"It's a long play for us on this one and certainly we have good prospects and feelings about where Airdrie is heading," he said. "They are a great municipality to deal with in terms of planning and approvals and trying to get some innovative communities going out there."