Facts About Davey Lake Development
Click the links below to discover facts about Davey Lake Development:
1) Is this an environmentally sensitive community?
Yes! Davey Lake will be one of the leading communities in Alberta to incorporate environmental technology into the community design, allowing its future residents to do their part in preserving the environment. By using environmental technology to reduce carbon emissions produced by home energy consumption, Davey Lake’s eco-sustainable vision will contribute to a greener, healthier and safer province.
2) What environmental technologies are being used?
Davey Lake Developments will be incorporating various technologies wherever possible to insure the community’s eco-sustainability. Some of these technologies will include geothermal heating and cooling, solar power incorporation, and rain water recapture. The advancement of today’s environmental technologies can allow home users to substantially reduce a majority of their carbon footprint, and reduce their energy costs at the same time.
3) What is the developer’s experience?
Davey Lake Developments is an experienced team of real estate professionals with a solid track record of development who share a unified vision for the Davey Lake project. With many of the directors and Sr. management having over 30 years experience, and having completed close to ¾ of a billion dollars worth of projects, the Davey Lake Developments team brings together a wealth of expertise and past achievement. Please contact a representative of Davey Lake to review the resumes of the professionals involved.
4) What is the water quality of the lake?
According to Canada’s leading engineering firm, Stantec Engineering, the water quality of the lake is typical of Alberta lakes. It is clean and generally unaffected by the surrounding agriculture. To insure that the water quality stays this way, the developer has removed the cattle off the development property, which is the leading cause of environmental damage to the lake’s riparian zone (shore line).
5) How is the lake fed? Will this ever change?
Davey Lake is fed by three ephemeral streams that flow into the lake during the spring season, and through most of the summer that have a clearly defined bed and shoreline. These streams are protected under Alberta’s Water Act and cannot be damaged or diverted, and are owned by the Crown under the Public Lands Act throughout all seasons. For over 100 years, since the original landowners have been on the lake, the water level has stayed consistent with minimal fluctuation.
6) What types of amenities will be on the lake?
Until today, Davey Lake has been almost completely inaccessible, being used only by locals as a place for private water-skiing and jet-skiing. There are currently no public access points or amenities. Davey Lake Developments’ community vision changes the lake’s use dramatically.
Firstly, the developer plans to allow for improved community access to the lake, including water access walking trails, group barbeque and picnic areas, a lakefront community centre with full amenities, open green spaces and playgrounds.
Secondly, the developer will lobby to have boating restrictions placed on the lake to restrict its use to only non-motorized vehicles, or vehicles with minimal horse power - like small fishing boats. This is being done to reduce the pollution to the lake, protect the wildlife’s natural habitats, and keep the boat noise to a minimum so it’s residents can enjoy the peace of nature.
7) Why is the lake not in the Atlas of Alberta Lakes?
The Atlas of Alberta Lakes generally reports on lakes that have a history of public access and frequent use, and was last published in 1990. There are many significant Alberta lakes that do not appear in this atlas that can be found on Google maps (best viewed in Satellite mode). The following is a list of a few of the lakes that do not appear in this atlas:
- Lake Claire, Alberta
- Keho Lake, Alberta
- Chip Lake, ALberta
- White Fish Lake, Alberta
- Bittern Lake, Alberta
- Mons Lake, Alberta
8) Where did the name Davey Lake come from?
Davey Lake was first discovered by a man by the name of Thomas Davey in 1890, before he sold the land to its current land owners in 1902. The lake was originally named after him, but is sometimes referred to by the locals as Horseshoe Lake because of its unique shape.
9) Is the development taking away from agricultural land?
No, the existing agriculture in the area will be preserved with this clustered type of community development. The nodal design of the development will actually have less impact on agriculture than traditional acreages because it clusters rural communities together, reducing the overall footprint of non-agricultural parcels.
Also, the development land around the lake has never been used to grow crops because its diverse topography does not allow for this type of agriculture. The hills and trees surrounding the lake shore only allow for cattle grazing as a farming practice, which causes environmental damage to the foliage, water quality and habitat of other species around the lake. The developer has removed the cattle off of the lake to protect the environment.
10) What stage of the approval process are you at?
Davey Lake Developments is a project that will be using unproductive agricultural land and changing its designated use to County Residential. All re-zoning applications require approval by Red Deer Municipal Council, and Davey Lake Developments has been working closely with the County of Red Deer ‘s Planning Department to insure its design and concept plans are congruent with all the County’s statutory planning documents. By adhering to the Municipal Development Plan (MDP) and Agricultural Viability Study for country residential parcels, Davey Lake Developments is confident it will meet all the requirements necessary to gain its regulatory approvals.
11) Will there be road dust from surrounding agriculture?
No, Red Deer County requires pavement-to-pavement roadways for any country residential subdivision in their jurisdiction. All roads and community accesses used in the area will be paved to county standards. Additionally, highway 791, the shortest access roadway from Davey Lake to Red Deer and Innisfail, and a secondary highway to Calgary, has been scheduled for paving by the province of Alberta between 2009 - 2010.
To view the province’s construction schedule
Click Here.
12) Is the local community support for this project?
Yes, there are many residents in the community who recognize that this development will benefit the surrounding areas and are looking forward to the project’s construction. While there is support from the community, there are also some residents who have raised concerns about some of the issues that surround development, which is the case of any project no matter how large or small. The input from all of the community and future neighbours is valued, as the vision for Davey Lake is to create a community that reflects and preserves the virtues that make this area such a great place to live.
Please visit:
www.friendsofdaveylake.com
13) How will servicing be taken care of?
The community on Davey Lake will offer full deep services to it residents, including community water, and community sewer where ever possible. Stancec Engineering has identified these services are viable and will be completing the final services design before the community’s subdivision is completed.
14) Who will live on Davey Lake?
Davey Lake will be a community offering the amenities and lifestyle that meet the needs of a diverse range of people, from new families to retirees. The developers are devoted to creating an incredible living environment, not only because Davey Lake is a beautiful location, but because the people behind the project plan to live there themselves.