News
Oct 31st, 2008
Our development team first conceived the idea of a new Motorsports facility in 2005. Alan Wilson, prominent road course designer, was signed under contract in the fall of 2005 to design a new road course facility in Southern Alberta for our corporation. After many potential sites were evaluated, the current site was purchased in late 2005 and we took possession of the land in the spring of 2006. Since that time, we have completed the concept design for the road course and infrastructure. We have developed a comprehensive Area Concept Plan, formulated a detailed Operations Plan, had an Environmental Noise Impact Assessment completed using a 3D digital model of the proposed track design, and undertaken a thorough Biophysical Impact Assessment. A Waste Water and Storm Water management plan is now in the final stages of completion.
In order to develop a unique new facility that integrates the existing community and environment with a novel motorsports resort center than includes recreational, commercial, industrial, social, and residential services, we approached the University of Calgary, Faculty of Environmental Design for assistance with this novel project. Successfully, the project was accepted and is now the basis of a Masters Degree Thesis Project by two architectural candidates who are being assisted by three architects and professors. This Thesis Project will be completed in early 2009.
Shortly after the Town Hall presentations in Kneehill and Wheatland County on November 2nd and 4th, we will be submitting the final Area Structure Plan to council in anticipation of reclassifying the project site into a Direct Control District which would then become a new land use bylaw.
May 12th, 2009
In December 2008, we submitted our comprehensive Area Structure Plan for Badlands Motorsports Resort to the County of Kneehill Development Office as part of the rezoning process. In March 2009, following a comprehensive review, the Development Office requested that some clarifications be made and that some revisions be completed prior to submission to Council. This work is currently being undertaken and it is our expectation that it will be completed and resubmitted by the end of May. We are hopeful that our Area Concept Plan will be approved as a new Land Use Bylaw by early summer.
We have had many inquiries in recent months regarding the possible effects that recent global economic conditions may have upon the viability of the project. We maintain that the development of this project will depend on membership pre-sales from the motorsports community. Although we are not yet marketing the project to the public, it is clear that tremendous interest from the motorsports community remains and I would like to reaffirm that our long term goals have not changed. If we are successful in obtaining the necessary approvals, an aggressive marketing campaign to promote this development will ensue.
At this early stage of development, we are able to modify the services and amenities that we will provide, in order to reflect the current economic climate. For those services and amenities that we do provide, we will strive to achieve quality, and no sacrifice will be made to the quality of the road course facilities. Our mandate is to maintain a high quality development, which is appropriately scaled to the economic climate in order to maintain affordability across a broad demographic. Entry level costs for memberships will be decreased if necessary.