The developers of the Southbow Landing project held an open house June 25 at the Cochrane RancheHouse to showcase the proposed plan and field questions from the public.
Andrew Boblin of PBA Land Development was on deck, along with Stantec (planning and consulting contractor to the town), to showcase where the neighbourhood plan is at, as presented to the Cochrane Planning Commission June 17.
The next step will be presenting to council at either the July or August council session for approval on the plan.
“We’re trying to create a comprehensive community with strong pedestrian connections throughout,” explained Boblin. “We want a strong, vibrant village centre for our commercial businesses and residents.”
The Philips family of Philco Farms has owned the 545-acre parcel of land south of the Bow River for over 40 years. Their desire to leave a ‘legacy’ in Cochrane is vested into the comprehensive neighbour plan for Southbow Landing — to be situated along the east side of Hwy 22, south of Cochrane Toyota.
Included in the plan is mixed-use housing; an integrated employment centre (located adjacent to Hwy 22) and village centre (a ‘robust shopping and mixed-use district’); 14.10 acres of retained natural wetlands (a minimum 300-metre setback from the Bow River); 7.24 acres of naturalized stormwater ponds that support urban wetlands; 50.26 acres of protected natural escarpments; ‘green connections’ throughout the community; and over 70 acres of dedicated land — the ‘Riverfront Nature Park’.
The project, following final approvals, would begin as early as the spring of 2016. The anticipated build-out to completion would take 12-15 years (dependant on market conditions).
Boblin stressed there would be a ‘balance between naturalized and manufactured areas’ that would attract people to ‘live, play and work’.
“The Philips family has owned this land for over 40 years and it’s very important to them to build a community that represents Cochrane well.”
PBA Land Development, in conjunction with Philco Farms, presented a cheque for $1.35M to the ‘Rock the Waves’ campaign last December, earning them naming rights for the 2017 curling facility — the ‘Philips Curling Centre’.
