The Chara Seniors Community development has faced a perfect storm of challenges over the past number of years including water and waste water servicing, regulatory approvals, Highway 817 realignment plans, COVID-19 restrictions, supply chain issues and now the highest inflation that we have seen in four decades. The path has not been an easy one.
In spite of the many challenges, significant progress has been made.
The following milestones have been reached:
- Completion and approval of all required pre-development reports including Historical Review, Environmental Site Assessment, Wetland Impact Assessment, Biophysical Impact Assessment, Slope Stability Report, Geotechnical Study and Traffic Impact Assessment.
- Completion and approval of preliminary water, waste water and storm water plans including agreements for municipal water and waste water servicing;
- Unanimous approval of the Area Concept Plan by Wheatland County council;
- Drilling and licensing of a commercial well (tested at 55 GPM) for site irrigation;
- Completion of a two-bedroom independent living cottage show home;
- Net zero status on the independent living cottage show home – natural gas has been entirely eliminated and the cottage, powered by a grid-tied solar PV system, will produce on an annual basis approximately as much energy as it consumes.
- Design of a new one-bedroom independent living cottage and a new four-bedroom care home to endeavor to address supply chain and inflation issues.
- Formation of an excellent team of project partners who all display care for the project and excellence and integrity in their work.
The project has been on hold for periods of time due to a number of factors that were beyond anyone’s control. The decision has been made to continue moving forward with the project in spite of the unsettled state of affairs in the world around us. There is a strong desire to see this development come to reality as the problems associated with an aging population will not go away but will only increase.
Those who are interested to know more about the project are invited to attend a show home viewing and presentation. The hope is that the project will resonate with those who desire to live in a community with the values that have been highlighted on the Chara Seniors Community website.