After attending the public meetings, listening to all the parties remarks and looking at the development potential of the Agriculture Society property I have made a few conclusions.
Here are my predictions.
Earl Solberg, chairman of Rocky View’s Ag Committee, will be make a huge, wondrous public announcement that a “Win/Win solution has been found!” The announcement will also praise the amazing visionaries Bruce Kendall and Ivan Brooker! Perhaps the Reeve will make the announcement, in which case Mr. Solberg’s leadership will also be lauded.
One of the proposals received by Rocky View County council will be deemed to have met everyone’s needs. The price will be less than anticipated, but other benefits will be expounded. There will be a “reasonable” price offered, injecting more cash into the black hole of Rocky View’s finances. High-priced view lots leading to high-priced property taxes along the upper northwest edge will generate revenue for the Town of Cochrane. A developer, builders and their cronies will profit from the development and sale of the “exclusive” properties. The onerous task of administering the Ag Society’s lease will be off the public table, falling to the new owner. The currently hard to develop parts of the property will be generously leased back to the Ag Society. This will include the indoor and outdoor arenas, lower pastures and BMX facility. Fortunately, only the pony club grounds and cross-country course will be lost – small price to pay for the “public good”. Everyone should be happy.
And, for a while, everyone except the Pony Club and Horse Trial members will be reasonably happy. After all, disaster has been averted.
Over time, the lease cost will go up; investors demand returns, eh? The owners of the new, high-priced view lots will complain about smells, dust, traffic and noise and the town will impose ever-greater restrictions; taxpayers have to be looked after, too. Town levees for water, sewer and access will grow and the Ag Society will have to increase user fees. As costs and restrictions increase, usage will decrease. Eventually the Ag Society will wither, then be smothered – after all, no one uses it anymore?
So, the land that was traded for a dollar and a promise to always lease it to the Ag Society will provide a nice profit to Rockyview, the town and private investors – and the former Ag Society facilities can be torn down.
The lower slopes will make a nice spot for a few more highly taxed bars, restaurants, curio shops and liquor stores – which is “How the West is Now.”
Alan Kidd
