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reginaguy
October 31st, 2005, 01:19 AM
Does anyone have more info on the new Development they're proposing south of the airport in Regina? They're also planning on extending the main runway at the airport

I think the new development would be great, at least it would even out the footprint of the city which is currently looks too "skinny" in the south, the area also has freeway access which would be good for the businesses there.. I just hope they dont make it all big box stores :(

http://img379.imageshack.us/img379/2095/mapimage1au.gif (http://imageshack.us)

taken from the Leader Post (http://www.canada.com/regina/leaderpost/news/business_agriculture/story.html?id=039fe104-0baf-44cb-8f7d-06ddff878725)
A billion-dollar housing and commercial development proposed for land south of the airport won't hamper the airfield's future growth plans or deafen potential homeowners, according to a new report.

"We have done a tremendous amount of analysis to the noise foot-print created by aircraft at the airport," said Rob Slinger, CEO of the Regina Airport Authority (RAA).

"New aircraft will create much less noise than the previous generations of airplanes. So, although the frequency of airplanes taking off and landing in Regina has gone up, the actual noise created has gone down."

Last spring, airport officials and local businessmen were at odds over potential development at the airport and surrounding land.

At that time, Steve Burchi, who was then president of the RAA, suggested that the proposed housing development south of the airport and west of the Lewvan might hamper the building of a future parallel runway by boxing in the airfield. In addition, he said the noise from future increased air traffic might be too loud for homeowners in the new development.

The concerns and their impact on land development prompted the City of Regina and Regina International Airport to commission the report into airport noise and runway expansion.

The report stated that even if passenger traffic tripled, the airport would not need a parallel runway.

"We're very pleased. It was something we always knew they didn't need -- a parallel runway," said Tom Shepherd, senior vice-president of Dundee Realty Corp.

Dundee owns much of the land just south of the airport and would be one of the major developers in the project, which would include 4,000 new homes and about one million square feet of commercial land.

Peggy Clark, director of community services for the City of Regina, said the report was essential for the city's growth strategy.

"We need to understand -- and now we do -- how the airport will impact on the nearby lands in the future."

She said the city is planning public consultations later this year and expects that construction will begin in the area within the next two years.

The report did outline a perimeter surrounding the airport in which land use should be restricted because of noise from airplanes. That perimeter is virtually identical to the one developed in 1993.

In addition, there is a "buffer" zone.

While that area varies, it generally extends 200 metres out from the perimeter.

Slinger said that some businesses might operate in the buffer zone, but it would not be recommended for noise-sensitive developments, including schools and day-care centres.

The report also highlighted a need to extend the existing main runway northwest by 1,200 feet to 9,100 feet to accommodate a cargo centre.

"There is a provision for a cargo-runway expansion, a multi-million project in the northwest corner of the airport, which would not affect, in any way, the noise level to the south of the airport and would allow us to accommodate increased cargo business," Slinger said.

He didn't have an exact price for the extension, but said it might cost $3 million or $4 million.

white
October 31st, 2005, 02:06 AM
Is this going to be more sprawl?

reginaguy
October 31st, 2005, 02:13 AM
Is this going to be more sprawl?
technically yes, but Regina doesnt exactly have a severe case of urban sprawl :P If you look at a map of the city, it makes sense to develop there, the huge plot of land is currently sitting there unused

Regina currently has a population density of more than 1,500 people/sq km which is pretty good for a city of 200,000 that also claims to have more parks and greenspace per capita than any other city in canada

there are some spots where some infill projects can (and should) be done, but i still think this is a good idea none the less

k19
October 31st, 2005, 06:14 PM
THE LEADER-POST
Latest News


Developing city's southwest

Neil Scott
The Leader-Post


City officials are contemplating plans that would make southwest Regina a major hub of new development, with 30,000 additional residents eventually living there.

And, if all goes according to schedule, some preliminary construction work could begin next year.

Many of the new homes would be located on land west of Lewvan Drive and south of Regina International Airport.

There has been some controversy in the past that development in the area would potentially box in the airport and limit its ability to develop another runway, if that became necessary. A related concern is the amount of airport-related noise that people who purchase homes in that area would experience.

But Barry Braitman, the city's co-ordinator of planning policy, said city officials are hoping to develop a plan that will meet the concerns of airport officials while also permitting residential development to occur.

"We're hoping to come up with a win, win situation,'' Braitman said Thursday.

Development just south of the airport has been under review at city hall for several months as part of a larger study of development plans for southwest Regina.

Braitman said officials are now hoping to have their report ready for submission to city council early in the new year so actual construction could begin in 2006, if city council approves.

Rob Slinger, chief executive officer of the Regina Airport Authority, said the authority and the city are still in the process of collecting data with respect to proposed developments in the vicinity of the airport.

But "there's no agreement, there's no understanding,'' so far about what type of development should be allowed to occur, Slinger said.

Slinger said he is expecting to receive a consultant's report in about a month which would discuss future developments at the airport and implications of development in the surrounding area.

The news about the potential new housing development comes at a time when the Regina Public School Board is reviewing its facilities citywide, which might result in the closing of several schools in September 2006.

One or more schools in the southwest could potentially be among the ones closed because of concerns about low enrolment and renovation costs.

Ernie Pappas, chairman of the school board, said he doesn't know if new housing in the southwest would have an impact on the board's decision to close or not to close schools in the southwest.

"That's something that we would have to take a look at,'' Pappas said Thursday.

The school board is under urgent pressure -- as early as next year -- to try to find ways to save money and to operate its facilities more efficiently, Pappas said.

And the development of a new neighbourhood with 30,000 new residents might well take a significant period of time, Pappas noted.

Braitman agreed that the projection for 30,000 new residents in the southwest is a long-term projection.

The exact length of time would depend on market conditions and how fast the houses are sold.

Among the companies that would be involved is Dundee Developments.

"Everything is moving forward quite rapidly,'' commented Tom Shepherd, senior vice-president with Dundee.

The city's development plan appears to be "on pace'' to be potentially approved by February, Shepherd added.

Some preliminary work could begin in 2006 and the first houses could be completed by 2007, Shepherd said.

Approximately 100 houses may be built per year over a period of several years, Shepherd said.

While schools might eventually be built on the west side of Lewvan Drive, Shepherd said students would initially be bused across Lewvan Drive to attend existing schools.

© The Leader-Post (Regina) 2005

Rhino
November 1st, 2005, 02:35 AM
this kicks ASS , way to go Regina !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!