Cochrane is officially looking to get smarter, after council endorsed its support for a Smart Cities Challenge application to enter the town into contention for some serious grant dollars.
Town CAO Dave Devana, who attended the 2018 Consumer Technology Association Conference along with Mayor Jeff Genung, presented the range of possible directions the town could go in the way of smart technology.
“I’m pleased with the unanimous support from council and really like the idea of engaging town staff,” said Genung.
The next steps include getting the community on board to establish a draft challenge statement by March 14.
Coun. Tara McFadden expressed concern over the looming deadline and the added pressures to administration and was reassured that Devana would take the lead on project oversight through the application deadline.
Administration has proposed that Cochrane focus the challenge statement on beefing up the fibre optic utility network to become the “Wired West” and tie into the downtown corridor, as well as the future Greystone mixed-use development.
Coun. Morgan Nagel took issue with any presupposition that Greystone would receive approvals – which Devana explained was flagged because of the proximity to the existing fibre network.
Genung and council were all on board with the potential for positioning Cochrane as a leader and attracting investment in the tech sector – which already has roots with several companies including Garmin, 4iiii Technologies and mcthings based out of Cochrane.
Examples of how Cochrane can get smarter were highlighted by the build of an IT incubator centre; free Wifi access for all of downtown; tying in smart technologies to a transit hub – which could partner with schools and seniors groups, including on-demand services; sensors to improve data tracking, minimize traffic congestion; alleviating staffing demands; and improving sustainable initiatives.
“They start here, they stay here,” stressed Genung over attracting tech start-ups to town.
The top 10 successful applicants will earn $250,000 apiece in grant dollars to develop final project proposals.
The Smart Cities Challenge application deadline is April 24 with top prize taking home up to $50 million, two second place winners each garnering up to $10 million and a third-place winner bringing home up to $5 million for their communities.
Re-designation of land in East End
Council voted in favour of re-designating lands 308 and 312 First Street East from R2X (medium density residential) to CB (Commercial Business).
This decision will pave the way for a future development on the two lots to allow for commercial development on the main floor of a maximum three-storey height building. Drinking establishments have been left as a discretionary use.
The development is yet to be formally submitted.
“At first there was a fair amount of convo with the land use and zoning – this sort of stuff happens with change,” said Igor Vissor with the Cochrane Settlement Community Association (CSCA).
He added that following the association meeting on Jan. 22, the sentiment was that most people were quite satisfied with the building height restrictions and leaving drinking establishments to a discretionary use – meaning extra hoops and community consultations would be required, should an application for a bar or pub come forward at any point.
Once a development application is received and as the process moves along, Vissor said that parking is another chief concern that people would like to see addressed – likely through on-site solutions.
Assessments
The 2018 Assessment report was delivered to Cochrane Monday night, revealing that the overall change for single family homes in Cochrane was down nearly half a percent, with duplexes and townhomes gained 1.26 per cent and condos dropping 1.29 per cent.
Average single family homes are assessed at $479,300 with a 5.2 per cent spike in single family housing product and 9.6 per cent increase in duplexes and townhomes.
The residential/non-residential split has shifted slightly, to 89/11 per cent from 89.27/10.73 per cent last year. When factoring in the Community Revitalization Levy, this split shifts to 86.81/13.19 from 87.42/12.58 per cent in 2017.
