To ensure the area redevelopment plan responds to community needs and complements the surrounding areas, a three-phase public engagement strategy sought to craft the vision for Centre in the Park through community events and discussions. This was done in 2018-2019 as part of the planning process that evaluated development opportunities and potential and determined appropriate land uses and development standards. 

The What We Heard reports can be found here. 

Complex development proposals like this can take several years of planning and refinement before they advance to a development permit stage. There are many steps involved, all of which are influenced by economic and market conditions. How long a private property owner takes to develop their land is not regulated.  

In December 2025, the developer, Royop Development Corporation sent a notification of tree clearing to residents in the neighbourhood surrounding the proposed site. This notification was carried out as a courtesy to inform the public about site preparation. 

Specific information about the proposed development (such as internal layout plans, unit types, project timeline, amenity spaces, etc.) may be requested from the developer directly.   

Strathcona County received the development permit application on November 26th, 2025. 

There is no set timeline for a decision on a development permit, but a decision is issued once the development authority has carried out a comprehensive review and is satisfied that all required information has been provided and evaluated. This can range from a few weeks to several months and beyond. 

When a development proposal is a permitted use and complies with the applicable bylaw requirements, it must be approved by the Development Authority. This process is set out in the Municipal Government Act (MGA), which is provincial legislation that all municipalities in Alberta are required to follow, and it helps ensure development decisions are made consistently, fairly, and predictably across communities. 

Decisions related to the use and specific zoning regulations have already been made though a legislated public and Council-approved process completed in 2020.  

Strathcona County cannot perform or require additional consultation at the development permit stage for a permitted use. In the Land Use Bylaw, permitted use is defined as 

“those uses of land, buildings, or structures, for which a development permit shall be approved by the development officer, if the development meets all applicable regulations of this bylaw.” 

A 6-storey apartment (apartment dwelling) is a permitted use under the current zoning district.  

In 2020, alongside the Centre in the Park ARP, the zoning was amended to: 

• Limit maximum height to 20 m (6 storeys) 

• Implement a transition area that covers the front 20 metres of the site along both Gatewood Boulevard and Georgian Way ensuring a gradual transition in building heights from the adjacent low-density residential buildings to the apartment building and the mall. 

Previously, the site was zoned C4 – Major Commercial, which allowed: 

• Residential uses, including apartment housing 

• Maximum height of 40 m (12 storeys) 

• Several commercial uses 

A Transportation Master Plan was completed during the ARP process to ensure the additional traffic could be accommodated by the existing roads. A Traffic Impact Assessment and Functional Servicing Report have also been requested as part of the development permit application as any impacts to these networks must be assessed and mitigated. These studies determine if improvements to the networks are required as part of the development project.