By Brittney Matejka

Medicine Hat city planning looks 30 years ahead

Feb 16, 2018 | 4:41 PM

MEDICINE HAT, AB. – The city of Medicine Hat has taken shape after years of thought by city planners.

The development of areas like Ranchlands, South Ridge and North East Crescent Heights began over 20 years ago when Ted Grimm was mayor and Dr. Ken Sauer was on city council.

In 1997, the city was trying to create city plans with a projected population of 60,000 people by 2016.

Sauer sat on city council from 1977 until 2001, he was apart of helping develop current subdivisions.

Medicine Hat skateboarders humanitarian efforts in Mexico to hit the big screen

Apr 29, 2024

UPDATED

Steam-powered passenger train passed through Medicine Hat on Friday

Apr 26, 2024

Medicine Hat Public Library Comic Con taking place May 4

Apr 26, 2024

“You have to be careful,” he said. “You don’t want to spread it out too far and have gaps because you have to run all utilities through that blank area to the new subdivision.”

Sauer believes the plans created by past city planners and councils have served the city well.

“You have to have some good foresight,” he said. “Good staff to work with you to make sure you lay out every aspect of what might be needed.”

Robert Sissons with the city said they have already started planning for the next 30 years.

“The main corridors like Dunmore Road and 13th Avenue really need to develop out,” he said. “Increase the density, it’s just a lot easier to provide operational services and infrastructure to those main areas if we concentrate the population.”

Sissons said predicting technology advancements will play a large role.

“I think we are going to have to be very resilient to a lot of the changes,” he said. “Changes to technology with automated vehicles, the use of the internet and how that impacts things like retail sales.”

The city is currently seeking public input on future city development online and will have open houses in the beginning in April.