Alberta Municipal Affairs Minister Hector Goudreau on Sept. 10 signed off on legislation to annex a portion of land to the Village of Boyle, which will present the village with future developmental opportunities.
“We’re poised for growth,” said Ken Gwozdz, chief administrative officer (CAO) for the Village of Boyle.
The village has acquired 900 total acres of land to the west, southwest, north, northwest and a small chunk to the northeast that will be used for future commercial, industrial and airport development for Boyle.
This is the first time in the village’s 53-year existence that they have acquired this much land, said Gwozdz.
“It will provide sustainability and growth for the next 20-30 years for the Village of Boyle.”
Development on a portion of the annexed land will begin soon.
“It will take place just north of Highway 63 near Boyle. We’re looking at a new industrial park to interact with the businesses to the community,” explained Harold Jahn, manager of Prosperity Industrial Park, the new project that will begin later this fall.
Construction of 135 acres into about 20 industrial lots will begin this fall and finish up in the spring of 2011.
The 20 industrial lots will be located to the north of Boyle, near the CN rail line located by Highway 63.
“The companies that will likely move into the area are a lot of distribution, light manufacturing and energy services companies,” said Jahn.
Boyle Developments Inc. is the company that has purchased the 20 lots for future growth in the area.
According to Jahn, once council meetings take place in October, construction on some of the lots could take place before the New Year.
“We have about a third of the lots committed to by businesses that are already working in northern Alberta.”
With the growth in the area, there will be more jobs available in the area once construction begins.
“Short-term there are about 50-100 employment opportunities. If we can attract some of the larger manufacturing companies that we’ve been working with, there could be 500-600 positions available,” said Jahn.
The length of time that it will likely take to fill all 20 industrial lots will be around five years, said Jahn.
Focusing on smaller communities has been one of Jahn’s prerogatives when it comes to his business.
“My focus has always been on smaller communities. The reasoning behind it is that a lot of people from smaller communities who graduate don’t usually come back home because they don’t have the ability to get a good job,” noted Jahn.
Commercial, airport, agricultural development
While a good portion of the annexed land to the north, northwest and west of the village will be developed for industrial use, another portion of the land, located on the west side of Highway 63, will be for commercial use.
The land to the south and southwest of the village will be used for construction of an airport.
With the $135 million worth of upgrades to the CN rail line located near Boyle, the opportunity for industrial expansion with the newly annexed land will put the village in a good position for future business opportunities.
The annexed land to the northeast of Boyle will be used for agricultural use.
Compared to purchasing land, annexing land doesn’t require dollars, but does require a lot of agreements and work.
“The land owners and municipality have to agree with the annexation, you have to answer all of the questions and comments they have, you have to go through public (open) houses and meetings and you’ve got to meet with them because you’re changing their taxes,” explained Gwozdz.
As part of the agreement, the taxes on the land don’t change for a number of years, added Gwozdz.
The public hearing and open house on the proposed land use area structure plan will take place on Oct. 6 at the Community Centre.
