A comprehensive plan for long-term development of the area of Corman Park bordering Saskatoon’s southeast edge is slated to be completed by January, 2022.
A contract to provide consulting services for the South East Concept Plan (SECP) was awarded to Urban Systems at the Corman Park council meeting on Monday, January 18. The contract, in the amount of $299,263, was awarded following a competitive bid process earlier this year.
The RM of Corman Park and the City of Saskatoon are cost-sharing the project on a 50-50 basis. In addition, a grant of $75,000 from the provincial government will help offset the cost.
In a report to the January 18 council meeting, the RM’s planning department said the SECP “will provide critical land use and servicing details to facilitate development in a key area of the current Corman Park – Saskatoon Planning District and the future Saskatoon North Partnership for Growth (P4G) Planning District.”
The study area includes future rural and urban growth areas where development is expected to occur as the region approaches a population of one million.
The RM’s planning department notes there are existing rural commercial, institutional and recreational developments located in what are likely to be future urban growth areas. The planning department suggests a management strategy is needed to address potential land use conflicts.
The area is already confirmed as a ‘future urban growth area’ in the P4G OCP’s District Land Use Map. However, details such as interim land use and servicing must still be finalized.
The SECP project includes: confirming inventory of existing land uses, site conditions, and infrastructure in the area; confirmation of rural and transitional land use frameworks; and developing a transitional strategy for transportation, potable water, wastewater and storm water networks.
The SECP will also involve consultations with landowners, rights holders and other stakeholders in the study area.
Because the future Saskatoon Freeway will pass through the area, the SECP must take the needs of that future high-speed roadway into account as well.
A steering committee to oversee the project will be made up of representatives from Corman Park, Saskatoon, P4G, Ministry of Highways, Water Security Agency, Ministry of Environment, and Cowessess and English River First Nations.