City looks to attract development for new homes: “We’re just trying to get ahead of it.”

The City of Cold Lake’s recent changes to their Area Structure Plan (ASP) is hoped to entice developers to build new homes for families.

Tuesday’s regular council meeting saw the scheduled public hearing and eventual second and third reading of the amended ASP, that looks at City owned land north of 54th Avenue, roughly from behind Lakeland Inn to Brady Heights.

By redefining the long term vision of this land, the City is hoping to get ahead of housing shortages in 2026 with the wave of construction workers coming to build the new hangar on 4 Wing Cold Lake.

“We’re concerned that a lot of land in Cold Lake isn’t being developed, and so what we’ve done is try to get ahead of it and put out some work here so that a developer could come in,” said Mayor Craig Copeland on The Morning After. 

“We’re trying to attract developers, builders, to come in and build multi-family. So we’ve been marketing in the a couple of meetings that we’ve had, as it’s one of the rare tracks of land the City has. We’re just trying to get ahead of it.” 

Municipalities build ASPs to provide the framework for all subdivision and development.

The City hired S&E Design and Consulting to undergo the open house and draft development for the vision.

A public Open House was held at the Energy Center on Nov. 13, 2024, where 15 adjacent landowners attended to provide feedback and input.

The contents of S&E’s plans were included in the council package from Tuesday, and can be read here.

WATCH (10:44)