The town of Elk Point has secured conditional approval for the proposed subdivision of Lot 15, Block 1, Plan 1921841 within the industrial subdivision. This approval, however, comes with specific conditions to be met before Lot 8 can be divided from the remaining 28.89 acres. The newly divided lot will be designated for an upcoming project, with a 30-metre strip along the parcel’s east side reserved for future road and utility infrastructure.
During last week’s council meeting, the town administration was directed to hire a surveyor to draft the subdivision plan, ensure endorsement of the conditions, and proceed with registration at the Land Titles office. Additionally, the town’s solicitor will be tasked with preparing the land purchase sale agreement for the subdivided portion.
The property in question falls under the Buffalo Trail North Intermunicipal Area Structure Plan. Recent development indicates a smoother process ahead for the IASP. CAO Ken Gwozdz announced that environmental services professional Robyn Gamber’s site visit last week confirmed the absence of wetland areas, thus eliminating the need for a stormwater pond. “This is brand new information as of last Friday,” Gwozdz said, indicating that the findings enable the matter to advance to a public hearing scheduled for July. Another public hearing in July will address the Buffalo Trail South IASP, focusing on future access points to the town from Highway 41 and 646, projecting needs 30 to 50 years ahead.
In his report, Gwozdz lauded Mayor Parrish Tung and the council for fostering regional growth, highlighting the recent announcements by federal and provincial authorities about Askiy Hemp Incorporated’s new facility in Elk Point. Askiy Hemp, jointly owned by Frog Lake First Nations and Logistik Unicorp, plans to build a state-of-the-art hemp decortication processing facility in Elk Point, touted as the most modern globally.
Gwozdz extended congratulations to Frog Lake First Nations Chief Greg Desjarlais, especially Band Councilor Clifton Cross, acknowledging the strong partnership with Frog Lake. He also thanked MLA Scott Cyr and Minister of Energy Brian Jean for securing funding and other government officials who supported the development. The contributions of Alberta HUB, STEP Economic Development Alliance, and the County of St. Paul were also recognized.
Councilor Tim Smereka added his thanks to Gwozdz and his team for their dedication and hard work in realizing the project.
Late into the meeting, two significant agreements were approved following a closed session. The first agreement, concerning Lot 5, Block 47, Plan 1223713, was with Askiy Micisowin and approved with modifications discussed privately. The second directed the CAO to have the town’s solicitor prepare a lease agreement for the former RCMP location.
Other closed session outcomes included authorizing the CAO to negotiate an agreement with Impact Venture, represented by Param Singh earlier in the meeting. The council also agreed to a land purchase offer for Lot 7, Block 46, Plan 1921636 and directed CAO to implement the airport transition plan discussed.
