TAMRMS#: B06
7.1
REQUEST FOR DECISION
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Lakeview Business District Servicing Project Land Acquisition
Presented by: Jordan Betteridge, Manager AMLIIS, Engineering and Tanya Hynes, Senior Municipal Land Specialist, Engineering
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RECOMMENDED MOTION(S)
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That the Chief Administrative Officer is authorized to approve and execute all land agreements to acquire land on behalf of the City of St. Albert to support Project Charter ENG-085 Lakeview Business District Servicing, provided that all such agreements are within the approved funding limits of the approved Lakeview Business District Servicing capital budget.
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SUMMARY
In accordance with Council Policy C-CAO-01- Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) Delegations, the CAO can approve and execute agreements to acquire land at or below fair market value, provided that the value of the acquisition does not exceed $499,999. There are several parcels or tracts of land that need to be acquired to support the Lakeview Business District Servicing Project. There are sufficient funds within the existing project for the land acquisition; however, the value of some of the individual acquisitions exceeds the CAO’s authority and requires Council approval.
The proposed motion will allow the City to streamline the execution of land acquisition agreements for the Lakeview Business District Servicing Project. Delayed land acquisition has been identified as a significant project risk as it is not recommended to tender for any construction activities until necessary land agreements have been obtained.
ALIGNMENT TO COUNCIL DIRECTION OR MANDATORY STATUTORY PROVISION
Council Policy C-CAO-01
5. Financial Conditions and Activities
c. The Chief Administrative Officer may:
xiii. Approve and execute agreements to acquire land at or below fair market value, provided that the value of the acquisition does not exceed $499,999.
BACKGROUND AND DISCUSSION
The Lakeview Business District Servicing Project has reached a stage where land acquisition requirements necessary for the project have been sufficiently defined to begin negotiations with the impacted property owners. It is anticipated that the project will impact seventeen (17) parcels. The extent of the permanent land acquisitions varies by property from partial acquisition to full parcel buyouts.
Land acquisition is a standard activity for municipal capital projects. In greenfield development, land acquisition is required for new servicing infrastructure such as roadways, underground utilities, and stormwater management facilities.
Once the project design has defined the land requirements, those requirements are then discussed with the impacted landowners. Administration obtains land and real estate appraisals, conducted by licensed, independent appraisers, to determine the fair market value of the land acquisition as a basis for negotiations. The City’s objective is fair and justifiable compensation and reaching mutual agreements.
Initial cost estimates for the proposed land acquisition requirements indicate that several properties are likely to exceed the $499,999 approval threshold for the CAO to execute land agreements, as outlined in Council Policy C-CAO-01. As a result, to obtain formal authorization to execute land agreements, Administration would be required to return to Council for approval for each individual land agreement.
In consideration of the efforts to streamline the Lakeview Business District Servicing Project, there is opportunity to reduce the land agreement approval timeframes through obtaining a blanket authorization for the CAO delegation to allow the CAO to execute land acquisition agreements for Lakeview exceeding $499,999.
This authorization would remain subject to land acquisitions only under the Lakeview Business District Servicing Project and be supported through our standard land acquisition practices. Approval of the recommendation will allow Administration to proceed with negotiations and agreement execution in a more timely and efficient manner.
It is important to note that while this recommendation is intended to improve the approval timeframe for executing land agreements and obtaining right-of-way, the timeframe for successfully negotiating land acquisition agreements will be influenced by each individual property owner.
STAKEHOLDER COMMUNICATIONS OR ENGAGEMENT
Administration has had initial discussions with landowners impacted by the Lakeview Business District Servicing Project. Detailed land acquisition discussions are currently in various stages.
IMPACTS OF RECOMMENDATION(S)
Financial:
There are no financial impacts as funding for the land acquisition is within the existing project budget.
Compliance & Legal:
Council Policy C-CAO-01 authorizes the CAO to acquire land up to a value of $499,999. Accordingly, the CAO will require approval from Council in order to proceed with portions of this project’s land acquisition, as it exceeds the CAO’s delegated authority.
Council would be delegating authority for certain land acquisition agreements above the standard Policy threshold within the approved budget for Lakeview land acquisitions only.
Program or Service:
Land acquisition is streamlined for the Lakeview Business District Servicing Project, assisting in advancing the project towards construction.
Organizational:
None at this time.
Risks
None at this time.
ALIGNMENT TO PRIORITIES IN COUNCIL’S STRATEGIC PLAN
Initiative aligned with Strategic Plan:
Not Applicable
ALIGNMENT TO LEVELS OF SERVICE DELIVERY
G.9.1 Capital Project Management
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Report Date: June 16, 2026
Author(s): Jordan Betteridge, Tanya Hynes
Department: Engineering
Department Director: Dawny George
Managing Director: Adryan Slaght
Chief Administrative Officer: William Fletcher