A Moose Jaw couple plans to enhance a 20-acre piece of land north of the community and will be able to connect to city water lines to service their development.
During its recent regular meeting, city council voted unanimously to have city administration negotiate an agreement with Cal and Deborah Cowan for water service for land at SE-13-17-27 W2 in the Rural Municipality of Moose Jaw. The property is north of Moose Jaw and adjacent to the highway.
Furthermore, council agreed in principle to let the Cowans connect to either a private four-inch water line on 16th Avenue Northwest or the city’s eight-inch line near the north service road. The agreement also includes six other clauses related to the project.
The Cowans want to subdivide the parcel to use it for agricultural, industrial or commercial purposes.
They also own a quarter-section of land west of 16th Avenue Southwest that Moose Jaw annexed years ago. If they connect to the eight-inch line, they will trench the pipe through their property and under the highway to connect to the development.
The Cowans and city hall have had good discussions about this project, while the contractor is also on board, David Chow, a lawyer representing the couple, told council. However, to avoid losing the developer, the project needs approval in principle so the couple can connect to a water source.
“It’s good for the City of Moose Jaw and the community that this project (goes) ahead,” he said.
One stumbling block is the cost of connecting to the water lines, Chow stated. It could cost five times as much to lay pipe for — and connect to — the eight-inch line versus the four-inch pipe, so both parties will have to determine the most feasible option.
While connecting the 20-acre parcel to the four-inch line would suffice, for now, the Cowans preferred the eight-inch line because of volume and pressure, he continued. If there is further city development around that west quarter-section, extending the eight-inch line would make sense. Also, the city could register an easement near the development to maintain the line.
Chow added that the developer would pay for the development and attaching it to the waterline.
City manager Jim Puffalt supported the project, saying the discussions have been good, the proponents have performed their due diligence, and creating a new subdivision on city boundaries is preferable since the city could annex that land in the future.
“We want to encourage this to happen; it’s an important thing,” he said. “As noted, a 20-acre parcel is not something readily available inside the city unless it’s in the industrial park, which is off the highway.”
One downside is that developing property on the city’s boundaries won’t provide city hall with new property taxes now, Puffalt remarked. However, that could change once the property fully develops and council works with the RM to annex the land.
“I’m happy to see that city administration and the proponents have got together to create this partnership … ,” said Coun. Dawn Luhning. “There needs to be partnerships with the city and RM and people outside our boundaries. This is a good place to start to negotiate an agreement of this kind.’
This development will benefit Moose Jaw at some point, said Coun. Doug Blanc. Even if this commercial business is in the RM, the people who work there will probably live in Moose Jaw and pay property taxes, which will support sports, arts and cultural activities here.
Any water the city provides to the parcel will generate revenue from water-rate charges, said Coun. Heather Eby. The city will also benefit economically if there is any further nearby development in the RM.
The next regular council meeting is Monday, April 11.
