WESTLOCK – The Aspendale area structure plan (ASP) is progressing ahead of schedule as of Feb. 4, representing an important step the town of Westlock is taking to address the ongoing housing crisis.
The project is part of the town's larger housing action plan, which aims to help alleviate pressure on both rental and homeownership markets in the community.
An ASP provides the framework and innate details for land and infrastructure development and is required to be in place and approved by council prior to the application for future land development.
The Aspendale ASP officially started in December 2024 and is preparing the currently undeveloped neighbourhood for future residential builds. The ASP will provide a comprehensive plan for developing the area, ensuring it is integrated with existing infrastructure while considering sustainability, community services, and transportation. The focus will be on providing a new single family residential subdivision.
“This area structure plan is our first level under our municipal development plan, where we dig into specific land uses, road layouts and utility connections,” said Danielle Pougher, the town of Westlock’s director of planning and development.
She added that it will lay out the specific locations of new residential or commercial areas, as well as road networks, road extensions, parks and green space.
“It will also talk about how we're going to service that land in terms of water, sanitary and storm.”
Currently in phase one (administrative engagement), the town has been busy conducting workshops and meetings with town council, utility companies, school boards, landowners, town administration, and key provincial agencies such as Alberta Transportation and Alberta Environment.
During this phase, they are actively engaging third-party consultant Bearisto & Associates Engineering (BASE), which specializes in engineering and survey services, to ensure that local infrastructure is prepared for the development.
Pougher said this precursor stage is important. “BASE conducts extensive background research and document review, as well as identifying what current infrastructure looks like and what our needs are in that area.”
Following this, BASE compiles the information and produces multiple concepts for the town to decide on. “The concepts would show some a couple different ways that the area could be laid out in terms of what goes where, how the roads will be and everything like that,” she said.
The ASP will enter phase two (public engagement) in March.
“We will have public engagement opportunities coming in early March, with both in-person and online options for participation,” she said. “The public will be able to view two concept layouts and provide their feedback.”
Screenshot from the town of Westlock’s website.
Engagement opportunities to know:
- Open House on Tuesday, March 4 at the Rotary Spirit Centre (second floor)
- drop in anytime between 12 to 3 p.m. or 4 to 7 p.m.
- Online survey from March 3rd to 7th on the Town's website at www.westlock.ca/p/aspendale-asp
Trent Muller, associate with Pricelock Realty beneath the umbrella of eXp Realty, has lived in the Westlock area for almost his entire life and says the issue of supply and demand is very real.
“We’ve switched from a buyers’ market to a sellers’ market in the last 18 months. Our town is growing, and our population is increasing,” he said.
A variety of factors are contributing to Westlock’s changing housing needs, including inflation, supply shortages, and an influx of people moving farther from the bigger cities – something Muller dubs an ‘urban sprawl.’ In 2024, Muller helped 55 clients in the Westlock and Westlock county to buy or sell their homes, compared to 37 in 2023.
“We have some gaps in types of homes with price ranges that we have demand for. It’s getting to be kind of like it was in 2007, when it was difficult to find someone a property like what they’re looking for,” he said, emphasizing that these issues are not exclusive to buyers, but renters as well.
Despite this, Muller remains optimistic about the future with the town’s plan.
“From a realtor's perspective, it's exciting. It's nice to see that the town is dealing with the growth and is trying to come up with plans to help house people moving to the community. The [Aspendale ASP] is a good start to getting subdivisions happening and having lots available for people to buy for building on in the future.”
Given that Muller witnessed an increase in empty lots with little-to-no development within the last decade, the town’s numerous initiatives to address housing shortages is welcome news to him.
“This will definitely help with the housing shortage. It’s nice to see some things happening. It shows growth. It shows economic strength, and it shows viability of our small town,” he said.
The project has a projected completion date of December 2025, with the official ASP document set to be drafted in June 2025. This does mean construction will be complete by December— rather, the official plan would be approved, giving developers the green light to begin construction.
“We've got quite a few different tactics and initiatives we're doing under that overarching housing action plan,” says Pougher.
The town will post progress reports on their website at westlock.ca.
