Title
Villeneuve Landing Network Partner Agreement
Proposed Motion
That administration be directed to present to Council the revised Villeneuve Landing Network Partner Agreement, as presented.
Body
Administration Recommendation
Administration does not support the revised Villeneuve Landing Network (VLN) Partner Agreement, as presented. Administration does not support the proposed motion.
Purpose
Parkland County received a revised Villeneuve Landing Network - Partner Agreement.
Summary
Administration has provided the revised Villeneuve Landing Network - Partner Agreement for the Committee's consideration to direct administration to present to Council for approval at a scheduled Council meeting. Administration provides the following comments for Governance and Priorities Committee's consideration:
- Considering reduced revenues and travel demands (COVID) and Edmonton International Airport’s (EIA) primary location land development plans and obligations, EIA will not have the financial capacity to further prioritize land development in Villeneuve over its Leduc assets.
- Without EIA being the primary investment driver, organic growth is not expected to materialize on the VLN lands.
- Three of the four identified and potential organic growth VLN development concepts (#2 Villeneuve ecoPark(VeP), #3 Villeneuve Agri-Innovation Hub (VAIH), and #4 Great Northern Logistics Park) are in competition to similar identified development concepts for Acheson Industrial and Meridian Business Park and would require incentives to make the VLN lands more attractive opposite to similar sites.
As for the revised and proposed agreement, it has been substantially simplified from the initial draft that was shared by Sturgeon. The primary changes are the removal of membership fees, a reduction to two-years (extendable for up to ten-years maximum) opposed to the previous twenty-years and a non-binding nature. The agreement is seeking prospective partners to “Section #4 a.)i…. acknowledge that….The Villeneuve Airport is the premier general aviation airport and flight training facility in the Edmonton Metropolitan Region…” and “Section 6 a.) i…The Partner commits to advocating for the development of the Lands…”.
The requirements outlined could counter and limit Parkland County's future ability to develop a strategy to development lands surrounding the Parkland Airport and Enoch First Nation's Business Park and should be considered before committing to the VLN as a partner.
Strategic Plan/Policy/Legal/Staff Implications:
Pillar 2 - Strategic Economic Diversification. We support the continuation and evolution of traditional economic activities, while pursuing new opportunities for diversified and sustainable growth.
Financial Impact:
Cost: n/a
Source of Funding: n/a