Skip to content

Bertrand Creek area development gets approval

Aldergrove project would build 61 houses on site of former sewage treatment plant
60741aldergroveForestInTheTreesWEB
A view of the forested area of a proposed development project in Aldergrove.

A controversial proposal to develop 19 acres of land into 61 residential lots in Aldergrove is one step closer to being built after winning preliminary approval from Township council Monday night.

The site near 28 Avenue and 276 Street used to be a sewage treatment plant that was decommissioned in the late 1990s.

The design would keep 40 per cent of the total property, 7.7 acres, as "environmental-natural open space" to provide setbacks from the creeks and wetland areas, and a trail network would be built along Bertrand Creek and the perimeter of the property.

All but one member of council voted for the development, with several saying the money from the sale of the property will help pay for the planned new recreation centre and pool in Aldergrove.

"If we want a pool, we better get at it," said councillor David Davis.

"It's a first step to putting money aside for a pool," councillor Bev Dornan said.

"This is absolutely ideal for Aldergrove," councillor Charlie Fox said.

"It's going to be nothing but great," said councillor Steve Ferguson.

At a public hearing on the project last month, several speakers lobbied to have the forested southern portion on the south side of Bertrand Creek preserved.

Councillor Bob Long said the site was "a bit of a war zone," not a pristine wilderness.

Councillor Kim Richter, the only member of council who voted against the development, called it "more suburban sprawl."

Richter tried to get council to limit development to the northern section, but was outvoted

Two Aldergrove residents, Angela Wonitowy and Jessica Horst, collected 300 names on a petition that called for a down-sizing of the development.

The proposal by builder Michael Sanderson will come back to council at a future meeting for a final decision.

- by Dan Ferguson with files from Kurt Langmann