Proposed Adult Lifestyle Community in Kinniburgh

A small piece of land located in Kinniburgh is being looked at by a local home builder and land developer for an Adult Lifestyle Community. Located directly south of the new Kinniburgh School Site and east of Camp Chestermere, the approximate 11 acre site is privately owned and currently sits vacant but is zoned within the Town of Chestermere as a Special Recreation District (SPR).
Ryan Armstrong is a Chestermere resident and the General Manager for Lifestyle Homes; he saw a real need within Chestermere for what he calls transitional homes for the 50-70 age group, so he had a feasibility study done to investigate it further. “We know that Canada has an aging population and as it turns out, Chestermere has an even greater need for this type of residence”, says Armstrong.
“The aging population has nowhere to downsize and I was surprised to hear that in many cases – our 50+ population has to leave Chestermere if they wish to find an adult community to live in.” Armstrong goes on to explain that he thought of his own parents when designing this community, “My parents live in Chestermere and I don’t want to see them have to leave when it’s time to downsize, I want them to have the option to move into a community within Chestermere that is designed for their lifestyle and that’s what I’m trying to offer.”
Armstrong explains this is a great piece of property available and would be ideal for his plans to build a spectacular low density community which promotes the type of life that living in Chestermere is all about. “We took great steps to design a neighbourhood that includes lots of green space and gardens, in fact each home will face a courtyard.”
“If you look at the landscape of Chestermere over the next five years – there is nothing like this, it is a wonderful opportunity for all residents of Chestermere.”
Armstrong says that the current pathway system within Kinniburgh will continue and connect with this pocket neighbourhood. The design is set for 36 buildings that will hold 74 units which have been thoughtfully designed with a high-end coastal craftsmen theme. “The location would be great for this demographic with the medical centre within walking distance.”
Because the land is currently zoned as Special Recreation District, Armstrong would have to have it successfully re-zoned in order to go ahead with the Adult Lifestyle Community. According to the town Land Use Bylaws, the purpose of the district is to provide for commercial recreational facilities on public or private land. Under the Bylaws it states that permitted uses include First Accessory Buildings, Irrigation Works & Reservoirs and Parks. Some of the listed discretionary uses include campgrounds, outdoor boat parking and private clubs. “I strongly feel that our proposed plan for an adult lifestyle community is a lot better than what could end up being there under the current zoning law,” says Armstrong.
The Town Council has asked Armstrong to do a public consult regarding the zoning changes and report the findings back to them for consideration. Scheffer Andrew Ltd. will be hosting the public information Open House on January 22 from 6:00-8:30 pm at the Chestermere Recreation Centre. This will allow for an informal opportunity to learn about this proposal and offer your comments.
“We are very receptive to feedback and want to talk to residents about our plans – we are excited about what we can offer,” says Armstrong. “We have heard overwhelmingly that this is what Chestermere needs, but we want to get it right so we invite residents will come out and talk to us to give us their feedback.”
Armstrong will wait to see the findings from the open house before he decides whether or not they will go ahead with the request for re-zoning. “Lifestyle Homes is a sustainable home builder that is committed to making Chestermere a vibrant place to live for everybody.”