Concept plans were tested at the first open house for Ghost Lake Manor on May 30, drawing a strong turnout and piquing concerns about added traffic volumes in the area, on the reservoir and potential impacts to the wildlife.
The 219 acre parcel of land is located on the north side of Highway 1A, east side of the Ghost Lake bridge (opposite side of the highway from the Ghost Lake Cottage Club). The site contains the Ghost Lake Manor mansion and two other houses. Purchased by Kevin Hu of HLC Homes two years ago, the limited company is exploring two very different concept plans.
The development is entirely separate from Ghost Lake Cottage Club – which has around 120 cottages built with around another 80 lots sold to primarily seasonal home owners. At full build out, market-dependant, the club will include 350 lots.
The first concept plan for Ghost Lake Manor includes 67 two-acre lots.
The second concept plan is commercial, with two hotels, a conference centre and is conceptually based on a partnership with a post-secondary institution that would include educational programming and research. There could be around 10 country-residential residences and the balance of the units would be cottages/lodges similar to the Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge concept.
"Really what we are doing is providing some concepts," said Kristi Beunder, planning lead with Civic Works, adding that they are trying to "get a feel for the area, the community" and gather feedback before firming up an application to develop.
She stressed that the potential development is at the very early concept stage and that there could be significant changes or even an entirely new concept plan to submit for development.
The intention is to return with a more refined plan by early 2020, ahead of submitting it to Rocky View County as a development application.
"I love fishing. I love this area," said Hu, highlighting that the commercial concept plan includes over 50 per cent green space.
"Under no scenario do we contemplate using ground water," explained Beunder, adding that they would like for a license to pipe water from Ghost Lake, as well as the build of a wastewater treatment plant that would be "scalable to serve the region."
Plans include active reuse of storm water and under the second (commercial) concept – greenhouses to utilize effluent water.
Curt and Adele Norman own a 160 acres near the potential site and have been in the area since 1978.
"I watched this whole manor get built," reminisced Curt, adding that his views on any potential development "depend on what it's going to do to the area."
The couple reinforced that "this is ranching country" and that development could add a lot of pressure to the serene watershed area.
Brent and Marina Stewart attended the open house with their four young children.
The couple moved nearby around two years ago, purchasing a quarter section with plans to run livestock and raise their family in a rural environment.
"This is a very wild area ... we have cougar and bear that go through our yard," said Marina, who is "very concerned" about how either concept scenario could pan out and what the interface with tourism and more residents with the area wildlife would look like.
"The biggest (concern) is impact on the Ghost Valley ... we don't have a whole lot of traffic around here," added Brent, expressing concern over the impact significant development could have on his nearby land, which is within Bighorn territory rather than Rocky View County.
The Ghost Lake Manor conceptual scheme does not have a website yet. Those with questions are encouraged to reach out to Beunder at [email protected].
