Anne King, on behalf of Alacrity Enterprises, is proposing a 40-lot subdivision south of Valleyview.

City council heard the proposal at the March 17 standing committee meeting from Mike Gau, the senior city planner.

"Alacrity purchased the property in 2007 and plans to develop approximately 40 serviced residential single- and multi-family lots at this location," said Gau, reading from a prepared report.

The lot is 3.3 hectares and is found between Hamilton Boulevard and the Alaska Highway. It used to belong to Northwestel Inc.

The property is currently designated Public Utilities land under the Official Community Plan (OCP), so King had applied to the city to have it re-designated Residential-Urban.

Both the Valleyview subdivision and the adjacent former White Pass tank farm are designated Residential-Urban, so the planning committee has found this application would "be compatible with the surrounding land uses."

The tank farm is under the jurisdiction of the National Energy Board, and while also designated for future residential use, reclamation work and development dates are uncertain.

The Alacrity lot is separated from Valleyview by 200 metres of greenspace, in keeping with OCP guidelines.

As King would like the future subdivision to be serviced by city water and sewage lines, she has had to work with the city's engineering department to determine feasibility and costs.

It was found that 250 metres of water and sewage lines could be connected to the development from Hamilton Boulevard at King's cost of $200,000.

The site's elevation would also mean a lift station and generator would be required, also at Alacrity's cost. Gau told council there is currently one access road leading to the site, which remains under city control.

"As part of a residential development, the developer would be required to upgrade the access road to city standards, at their cost," said Gau. "Upon completion of the development, the city would take over the road and provide maintenance and snow removal."

Once an OCP amendment is passed, the land will also have to be re-zoned from FD-Future development to one more appropriate for residential development.

A public hearing for this OCP amendment is scheduled for May 12, with first reading set to be given at this evening's council meeting.