Title
(Appointment: 9:30 a.m.) Update to extend Range Road 54 to provide physical access to S1/2 of 21-50-5 W5M.
Proposed Motion(s)
That Council accept the information as presented and direct Administration to pursue Option C.
Body
Administration Recommendation(s)
Purpose
To provide information on the progress that has been achieved with respect to extending Range Road 54 through Letour Lake; and
Provide Council with a set of options to consider in resolving the land access issue.
Summary
Engineering Services received a mandate from Council on April 24, 2012, to review the feasibility of extending Range Road 54 to provide physical access to the South 1/2 21-50-05-W5M. Contact was made with Alberta Environment and Sustainable Resource Development (SRD) the next day to discuss the option of constructing a roadway through Letour Lake. A formal request to determine ownership of Letour Lake was submitted on May 7, 2012 subsequent to discussion with SRD.
Determination of ownership was completed on August 21, 2012. SRD confirmed that the permanent and naturally occurring bed and shore of Letour Lake is owned by the crown. We received the application form to fill out on October 10, 2012 and submitted the application on October 22, 2012.
This project will involve the participation of three groups from SRD, the Commercial / Geomatics Technical Services Unit, the Land and Range Management Unit and the Water Administration Unit. We intend to discuss the option of constructing through the lake and the option of contouring the lake perimeter and staying within crown land considering that the adjacent landowner has no interest of selling. Constructability, land acquisition and compensation cost are items that need to be discussed with Alberta Environment in order to determine which alignment should be pursued.
If SRD agrees to sell the land and land compensation as been established, we will be able to provide a detailed estimate. The cost presented at this time is preliminary.
The landowners of the S1/2 of 21-50-5 W5M have been involved and have brought forward options that require review and evaluation. Administration would like Council to provide feedback on the following options:
A. The County design and construct the roadway as per policy:
- This project is required to be included in the construction season schedule in order to move forward
- The County would deal with government regulators
- We believe this project will take 2 weeks to design and 10 weeks to construct
- Cost should be lower than hiring a consultant and a contractor to build
- County has direct control over the quality of the product
B. The owner designs and builds the roadway:
- County pays their share as work is being conditionally accepted
- This project is required to be included in the construction season schedule in order to move forward
- Owners need to hire consultant and contractor to build, supervise and provide quality control
- The owner would deal with government regulators
- Minimal impact on County resources (Staff and heavy equipment)
- Need one County staff to inspect and accept the work as it progresses
C. Parkland County proceed with the road allowance closure along RR 53 or RR 54 and lease it to owner:
- Against current County Policy (Only adjacent landowners are currently permitted to lease closed road allowances)
- This would eliminate legal access to the SE 20 & NE20 along RR 54 or SW 22 along RR 53
- The road allowance must be closed from public access
- Roadway may not be built to standard
- Owners to operate and maintain the roadway
- Owners shall gate the area to prevent use by others
- County shall maintain the right to cancel the lease and remove any substandard access
D. Trade the landlocked S1/2 of 21-50-5 W5M for available County land:
- The landowners owns the equivalent of 230 acres (SW 21: 134 acres and SE 21: 96 acres)
- There are approximately 218 quarter sections in Parkland County that have no developed public access (209 are privately owned)
- Could be precedent setting
- Parkland County owns 29 properties over 70 acres that are designated/committed
- Parkland County owns 9 properties over 70 acres that are not committed but have no developed public access (determination of accessibility is still required)
- Parkland County owns 7 properties over 70 acres that are not committed and have developed public access
- The exchange can only be based on equal market land value (Accessibility leads to marketability)
Option A and B are consistent with the current policies.
Strategic Plan/Policy/Legal/Staff Implications
Policy EN-009: Road Allowances & Diversions - Sale, Lease, or Permitting
Policy EN-017: Access Construction in Undeveloped Road Allowances
Financial Impact:
Revenue: $450 Administration Fee plus $140/yr lease - Based on Option C - Road Allowance Lease.
Cost: $547,000 (50% shared with applicant(s)) - Based on Option A - Hybrid 4.0m/7.5m road surface
Source of Funding: 50% Landowner, 50% County - Funded from Taxation
Other (As Required)