The City of Grande Prairie is moving ahead with plans to annex just over 15,600 acres of land to accommodate development 30 years from now.
The northwest Alberta service hub is holding open houses this fall to provide additional information to landowners and the public about its plans for annexing land in the County of Grande Prairie northwest and northeast of the city.
The city is proposing a gradual phase-in to city tax rates that will last up to 15 years.
"Annexation is a key issue for the city," says Grande Prairie Mayor Bill Given. "In order to diversify our tax base, raw land is needed for new industrial and commercial development."
The county isn't expected to oppose the advancement of its urban neighbour. Given that scenario, the city of more than 50,000 is likely to formally apply to the province's Municipal Government Board for the annexation in early 2012, and should have jurisdiction over the lands by 2014.
from Western Investor November 2011
