A long-awaited new hotel development in North Battleford took the next step towards reality Monday at City Hall.
A service agreement has been hammered out between city officials and Terracap Management Inc., owners of Frontier Centre mall, on upgrades to Carlton Trail.
That has cleared the way for the City to approve the subdivision for a new 100-room Comfort Inn and Suites hotel on that street.
In a resolution passed unanimously, council authorized the mayor and city clerk to issue approval of the subdivision, “subject to the condition of the agreement for the required intersection on Carlton Trail between the City of North Battleford and Terracap.”
The hotel development was announced last September, news that was greeted with enthusiasm from City and tourism officials as well as the local business community.
Developer CCR Investments is behind the hotel project, which will be located on the south side of Carlton Trail just north of the shopping centre. The hotel is to be located on Terracap property.
But an agreement still needed to be worked out between the City and Terracap on upgrades to Carlton Trail to accommodate the traffic going to the new hotel. The upgrades were recommended in an AECOM study done in 2010 regarding future development, and were also based on traffic count studies in the area.
After much negotiating between the parties the City has entered into a servicing agreement with Terracap, which means the go-ahead to construction of a new signal controlled intersection to accommodate traffic in the area.
Mackrell explained to council what is happening with Carlton Trail. Part of the change involves the intersection at Carlton Trail and Frontier Way, which heads into Walmart.
“The current intersection of Walmart and Frontier Way has some issues that need to be addressed and should become a right in, right out access only,” said Mackrell.
The other, more significant change involves the eastern access to Walmart by the Co-op gas bar and convenience store. That will be where the traffic lights will be located.
Costs are estimated at about $440,000, to be divided among the four property owners based on traffic volumes generated by each property. Terracap has agreed to these terms and is responsible for $123,200 according to the service agreement document.
The total City investment is pegged at $400,400, and is included in the capital budget.
Mackrell said the changes would be beneficial for the entire area.
“Really, the city has a large benefit to it with the CUplex being along Carlton Trail,” said Mackrell. He also stated there would be benefits to the commercial properties along Carlton Trail as well.
City Manager Jim Puffalt was enthusiastic about the agreement the city had come to with Terracap, saying there had been “pretty intense negotiations.” He thanked the team with the City as well as Terracap for finding a solution.
“Certainly development in the City is always something that we’re there to do,” said Puffalt.
“Considering the economic times in western Canada and to have this type of development occur. It’s only the first of other things that will happen there. It’s pretty encouraging and another sign that of course North Battleford is open for business, and we welcome and encourage businesses to locate and prosper here.”
