Town planning services will be spending up to $100,000 to prepare a comprehensive master site development plan for the recreational lands anticipated to be annexed by July 1 from the Rocky View County.

The plan will examine what is required to prepare the property for use, but of more interest to the community is exactly what amenities will be included on the estimated 128-acre parcel, located behind the Heritage Hills development. The land is commonly referred to as the Horse Creek quarter section by the town.

Drew Hyndman, senior manager of the development services, told council last night public consultation on exactly what will be developed there will be undertaken by the town’s Parks and Recreation committee.

“We’ve had a number of different groups come and speak to council and express interest, whether it’s the rugby group that came earlier this year, soccer, minor baseball, so there are a number of different groups but nobody has been eliminated from that at this point. We certainly will work with the different groups and bring a concept forth for your consideration with their input.”

Last week, the park and rec board established Mar. 16 as their next delegation day for potential user groups of the Horse Creek quarter-section. Tentatively, 10-minute presentations will be heard from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. New groups will be invited as will groups who previously made presentations if their vision or ask has changed significantly. The public consultation is currently in the planning stage and more details will be forthcoming.

Councillor Alex Reed asked what the $100,000 price tag was based upon. Hyndman says planning services would likely call upon outside expertise to assist in bringing forward the best product possible but would prudently seek out any possible spending efficiencies. The study is being funded through the parks and open spaces reserve.

Of the two areas being annexed by the town, this is by far the largest. A second 40-acre strip north of the Sunset Ridge neighbourhood is being annexed to allow provide a more viable second entrance/exit to the large subdivision.

The town has budgeted $1.4 million to acquire the Horse Creek quarter section from Rocky View Schools. The entire parcel is 158 acres, of which the school division intends to keep about 30 acres to develop a future high school.