News Release
For immediate release
May 25, 2004
Residential development¹s environmental standards get green light from county
Sherwood Park, Alberta . . . Strathcona County Council today approved an agreement that paves the way for construction to begin at Habitat Acres, Alberta’s first natural lands executive residential development project.
The agreement establishes jurisdiction over a number of environmental issues in the bare land condominium project, giving Habitat Acres stewardship of its water habitats and its 44 acres of natural lands, the community’s landscape architecture and the maintenance of its recreational trails system.
“We now have, for the first time, standards for the perpetual conservation easement of natural lands in residential developments in Strathcona County,” said Sten Berg, the project developer. “From the outset, we have been unwavering in our commitment to the environment. With today’s agreement, the environmental standards for the community now align with the construction standards of the individual homes at Habitat Acres.”
The agreement was unanimously approved by Stratchona County Council.
Habitat Acres sits on 68 acres of rolling farmland at the intersection of Baseline Road and Range Road 223, five kilometres east of Sherwood Park and 24 kilometres east of downtown Edmonton. The community is a new concept in executive housing – evergreen living – that combines an uncompromising lifestyle with environmental stewardship.
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Backgrounder attached.
For more information on Habitat Acres, visit www.habitatacres.com,
or contact:
Sten Berg
Habitat Acres
53003 Range Road 223
Ardrossan, Alberta
T8E 2M3
Phone: 780-907-2103 Fax: 780-922-3729
sales@habitatacres.com
Backgrounder
Habitat Acres sits on 68 acres of rolling farmland at the intersection of Baseline Road and Range Road 223, five kilometres east of Sherwood Park and 24 kilometres east of downtown Edmonton, Alberta. The community is two kilometres to the west of the hamlet of Ardrossan.
Habitat Acres is a new concept in executive housing – evergreen living – the only community of its kind in Alberta. Evergreen living combines an uncompromising lifestyle with environmental stewardship. Almost two-thirds of the community is permanently set aside as heritage land, dedicated to outdoor recreational activities, and can never be developed. Therefore, the view residents have of their heritage lands, when they build their homes today will be the same view future generations will have.
Evergreen living includes a commitment to the quality of the homes built on the land. Architectural controls at Habitat Acres not only protect residents' investments, they ensure that the integrity of the land is maintained. All homes built at Habitat Acres will need the approval of the architectural guidelines committee which will review the aesthetic appeal of a home's design and its harmony with the land. This attention to detail ensures an architectural standard that is second to none.
At the same time, the community's commitment to the environment extends to its on-site sewage treatment system that will reduce its impact on the region's sewage infrastructure. Habitat Acres is the first multi-owner residential community in Alberta to use this system.
Habitat Acres combines the best of urban living with a country lifestyle
by clustering residences together in a way that ensures water habit views
and maintains privacy, while minimizing maintenance. Because of the substantial
amount of heritage land at Habitat Acres, most lots measure under an acre,
reducing grooming and maintenance time and costs for residents.
The heritage land at Habitat Acres is dedicated to outdoor recreational
use. The condominium association is responsible for the upkeep of all
common properties, road maintenance and sewage treatment. The condominium
association will maintain common properties like hiking trails and cross-country
ski trails and will be responsible for snow removal on roads.
The lots at Habitat Acres offer a wide range of building options and most are suitable for walk-out basement construction. Owners can choose their own builders and are encouraged to use the services of a professional architect in designing a home that complements the land it sits on.
All lots have services installed to the property line including underground power lines, water (trickle system), natural gas, telephone, and high-speed Internet access. Sewage will be installed by the developer.
For more information on Habitat Acres visit www.habitatacres.com or contact:
Sten Berg
Habitat Acres
53003 Range Road 223
Ardrossan, Alberta T8E 2M3 Phone: 780-907-2103 Fax: 780-922-3729
sales@habitatacres.com