Lake Country Construction Boom Grows Economy

Driving through Lake Country it’s hard to miss the economic boom.

The District is setting records for economic growth.

Figures show last year was the busiest construction year since 1995 with almost 93 million dollars in total construction activity.

Mayor James Baker says the area is hot.

” We’re certainly well positioned for the airport and the university and land prices are still a bit lower.”

The first quarter of this year has already seen an 18 per cent increase in construction activity from last year at the same time.

Mayor Baker says this all bringing in money for needed infrastructure.

For example:

” One per cent tax requisition gives us some funds that we can actually build sidewalks with and make it a lot safer for our school children who previously didn’t walk on sidewalks to schools.”

Baker says some people think the area is growing too fast but he’s confident the district can maintain a good balance between development and agricultural heritage.

” We have the plans in place to put people where they can fit and we keep as much agricultural land as we possibly can.”

Fourty-six per cent of the land base is agricultural.

Baker notes development is not allowed on land not removed from the Agricultural Land Reserve.

Density is kept where services are, sewer-roads and water, close to schools and businesses downtown so they can benefit from increases in population.