Mayor Jeff Genung believes it’s one of the most important decisions facing the community. It may also become the most controversial or discussed item on council’s wish list.

After adjusting the format of the committee, town council has given the thumbs up to the framework to decide how to utilize three publicly-owned properties in the downtown core. Several community organizations have expressed interest in being part of the plan while some existing stakeholders seek confirmation of what their future holds.

Called the Tri-Site Concept Plans Project, a decision is scheduled to be reached by the end of 2018 on how to develop the 5th Ave. site and two parcels of land on Railway St. The 5th Ave. site is currently home to the Cochrane Lions Rodeo Grounds, Cochrane Lions Events Centre, the Boys and Girls Club, two ball diamonds and horseshoe pitches. It was also the former home to the Big Hill Leisure Centre that was demolished in late 2017. The Railway St. properties are located next to the Nan Boothby Memorial Library and practically across the street on the former Esso Bulk Station site. Both are currently vacant.

An advisory group of eight residents and one town councillor will work with town administration and project consultant Urban Systems Ltd. to determine exactly what should go where then return to council with design concepts.

The end result will heavily impact the shape of Cochrane’s downtown and it will become the town’s first major foray into the downtown district since the community hall was demolished many years ago.

A four-step process will be utilized in bringing forward recommendations. It starts with reviewing background data on the sites and selecting a community advisory group. By soliciting ideas and consulting with stakeholders they will determine community needs and these will be utilized to develop preliminary concept plans for each site. Accompanying those scenarios will be an implementation strategy that includes an anticipated delivery timeline.

The project has a $140,000 budget and it was this cost that prompted Councillor Patrick Wilson to seek confirmation that something definitive would come from this expenditure. He expressed concern, perhaps even disbelief, over the cost and feared the end result may be a recommendation of only creating green space in all three locations and exclude community facilities sought by many.

Town CAO Dave Devana assured council the end will be a complete package of site plans, conceptual drawings and timelines that council will then be able to examine and see how it fits into the town’s 10-year financial strategy.

“In the end, you will have a professionally-developed plan informed by the public,” he explained.

Mayor Genung is certain there will be more than park space resulting from the study. He has met with a wide range of groups expressing interest in being included on these properties.

“The biggest challenge will be selecting the top priorities,” he says.

He also believes it's unfair to leave the Lions Club in limbo any longer on whether the rodeo grounds are part of that plan. The club's lease currently expires in 2019. For years, the club has been hesitant to upgrade the rodeo grounds and to expand upon its use because of the lack of a long-term lease.

Councillor Alex Reed requested council be informed of the total cost beyond the consultant fees that would be inclusive of all town staff costs for its completion.

He had also suggested the land the town is currently negotiating to annex from Rocky View County north of Heritage Hills be part of the discussion, especially if the rodeo grounds needs to relocate, but it was felt the committee would have its hands full with determining the use of the three downtown sites.