New subdivision approved in Cold Lake North, rarity since 2014

A new subdivision in Cold Lake North has been approved by the municipal planning commission (MPC).

Located off on English Bay road, this new subdivision in the area of the Cold Lake Medical Clinic (formerly Glacier Gate) includes 41 residential lots, as well as as creating the park space to serve the Parkview neighbourhood, city notes say. 

MPC met on Tuesday, Aug. 22 and went ahead with approving the ask from the applicant S E Design and Consulting and owner Jerry McCaffrey (TCG Developments Inc.).

“It’s exciting. We’re seeing some new builds in Cold Lake,” said Mayor Craig Copeland. 

“And really good to see the developer get ahead of what we think is going to be a potential increase in people coming to Cold Lake. Whether it’s just going to be for the construction workers, but definitely, housing will be required.” 

Copeland is referring the anticipating surrounding work at CFB Cold Lake as part of the new fighter program, which will require substantial upgrades to the faciliites at the air base.

With major construction going on, plus the pressures surrounding housing nationally, city council sees this as a positive.

This is only the second multi-lot subdivision that Cold Lake has seen since 2014. In 2022, the City approved an expansion of 37 lots in the same neighbourhood.

“You’ll see a lot of development in there already. We approved another phase in that whole complex up there and it’s over 40 lots. So between that phase and the previous phase, you know, well over 70-80 lots available now for mostly single family, there’ll be a little bit of duplex type of housing, possibly, but really excited to get that going,” said Copeland. 

“People don’t realize there’s a lot of money involved when you do a big development. You got all the undergrounds, you got to put in the lights, the paving of the street. And so it’s a long process, it’s well over a year to get everything done. And then once the lot is ready, then the homebuilders come in, and they purchase a lot. Then typically in Cold Lake, they build a spec house. Then you come in and if you like that house here, you buy it off of the builder, right. 

“We’re anticipating a little bit more action in the future. We’ve had some people inquire, so we’re anticipating a big push here, probably 2025 with the F35 program. We’re anticipating that there’s going to be more people coming to our city.”