Mayor Peter Politis said the city has about 800 lots that they are pursuing as potential subdivisions.
Housing development was a hot topic at the last Cochrane council meeting.
On Tuesday (Sept. 26), Mayor Peter Politis gave a verbal report that they had approximately 800 additional lots that they were now pursuing as potential subdivisions.
“We’ve recruited a number of developers to look at the community, and the opportunities are great. We have worked very hard within the municipality to identify land and opportunities that exist in the city,” he said.
Developers are also interested in some Cochrane long lots, Politis said.
“These are new taxpayers arriving in our community and no infrastructure is required for the municipality,” he said.
Split-level apartments are also under discussion, Politis said.
“Currently, there is a regulation in the municipality which prohibits anything higher than three. We need to try to build multi-level rental housing and transitional housing in this community. Because, again, it provides a massive and very rapid opportunity to house people, and it also generates very rapid revenue without any investment in infrastructure, because that infrastructure is already there, which is very good,” said he declared.
According to Politis, developers are focused on housing development and are also keen to recognize that for successful housing development, it is essential to consider all facets of housing.
“What developers and employers are looking at is how to retain people. It’s one thing to bring people here from across the country, the province or the world, but how do you keep them from coming back as soon as an opportunity presents itself closer to home, which tends to happen? “, did he declare.
“I told the story that I am the son of Greek immigrants; I am first generation Greek. They came as a family – so aunts, uncles, cousins – and formed their own little community. Even though they didn’t speak the language, they integrated into the rest of the community. Frankly, there was a lot of racism at that time, but they thrived and survived because they had their families.
Acting City Manager Richard Vallée said targeting the homeless, income housing and low-income housing is also a top priority.
“For the plan to work, everyone must be included. We have many tools,” he said.
“In all the years I’ve been here, this is the most excitement I’ve felt about my job, just because every week it’s something new, and if the planners are excited , That makes me happy. So a lot of things happen. »
Advice. Marck Recoskie said developers don’t go somewhere if it isn’t worth it.
“It’s an exciting time to think that developers are finding Cochrane worth focusing their money and effort on. That says a lot about Cochrane,” he said.
Politis said he doesn’t know what kind of growth to expect for the region at this point.
“The level of growth is something that we as a council need to think about. This is something we need to be very in touch with. The community should be very involved in discussing thoughts and theories about what we do and don’t do,” he said.
“Personally, I don’t foresee us going from one to 50,000 people for example, it’s a bit crazy. Even if this opportunity presented itself, I’m not sure it’s the type of Cochrane we would want, but healthy growth, I think, is something we all work hard for.
The city’s number one priority is Cochrane’s current citizens, Politis said.
“We’re going to welcome a lot of different people into our community, but we have to recognize, remember and never forget the community that is here right now and remember that they are our number one priority,” he said.
