Council Greenlights Sunset Heights Development Plan
Council Approves Sunset Heights Plan
Bentley Town Council gave final approval to Bylaw 249-2024 on Tuesday night, officially adopting the Sunset Heights Area Structure Plan. The decision followed a public hearing where the town’s development officer presented the final framework for the neighborhood's growth.
Council moved through both the second and third readings of the bylaw during the session. This approval transitions the project from a proposal to an active planning document that will govern future residential expansion in the Sunset Heights area.
Why It Matters
This plan is the blueprint for how Bentley will grow. It dictates where houses go, how roads connect, and how utility infrastructure will be laid out. For residents, this means a predictable path for local expansion. For taxpayers, it ensures that new developments are planned systematically rather than piecemeal, which typically reduces long-term maintenance costs for the town.
Citizen Input
Despite the opportunity for public feedback, the public hearing saw no registered delegates. No residents came forward to speak in favor of or in opposition to the Sunset Heights plan. This lack of participation allowed the council to proceed to the voting stage immediately following the development officer's presentation.
Asset Management and Infrastructure
Stantec Consulting presented Phase II of the Town’s Asset Management plan. This report is a reality check on the town's physical inventory, including pipes, roads, and buildings.
Asset management plans are designed to prevent "emergency fix" budgeting. By identifying which infrastructure is nearing the end of its life, the town can schedule repairs before they become catastrophic failures. Stantec’s presentation focused on the long-term financial strategy required to keep Bentley’s current infrastructure functional without sudden, massive tax hikes.
Regional Library Budget
Council reviewed the 2025 budget for the Parkland Regional Library System. As a member municipality, Bentley pays a per-capita requisition to support regional library services. While the meeting served as a review of these costs, the budget reflects the ongoing trend of rising operational costs for regional services that the town must account for in its own upcoming 2025 municipal budget.
Other Business
* Financials: Council approved the prepaid cheque listing, covering payments No. 20240695 to 20240743.
* Lacombe County: Highlights from the September 12 Lacombe County Council meeting were received for information to ensure alignment between the town and county on regional issues.
* Community Maintenance: The annual Yard Waste Clean-Up is scheduled for Friday, October 18. Residents must have waste ready for pickup by that morning.
* Waste Management: A hazardous waste roundup will take place at the Bentley Transfer Site on October 5, from 1:00 p.m. to 4:45 p.m.
What’s Next
A public meeting is scheduled for October 9, 2024. This meeting will address proposed consolidations and changes to the Town of Bentley Land Use Bylaw. Residents who want to know how zoning changes might affect their property values or neighborhood density should attend this session.