The Red Deer region could see new entryway signs and more attractive shrubs along major highways under new development guidelines.

City of Red Deer and Red Deer County plan to create design standards for future development along Highways 2, 2A, 11, 11A and 595 within the Intermunicipal Development Plan.

Preliminary designs were unveiled at Wednesday’s open house inside Westerner Park’s Harvest Centre.

Glenn Simon, owner of Glenn’s Restaurant in Gasoline Alley, was impressed with proposed City of Red Deer signs showing deer silhouettes.

He said the one city sign at 67th Street near Hwy 2 is hard to read, while these proposed ones would be eyecatchers.

“I’m a big believer in shapes, in icons,” said Simon. “When you go down to Vegas, what do you see? You see flamingos, you see shapes.”

Also proposed are different themes for the highways, based on what they are known for: “Red Deer Moving Ahead and Progressive” for Hwy 2, “Railway” for Hwy 2A, “Explorer Trail/David Thompson Trail” for Hwy 11, “Agriculture and Industry” for Hwy 11A and “Coal Trail” for Hwy 595.

“It would give a little bit of flavour for signage,” said Carol Craig, senior landscape architect for Red Deer’s UMA Engineering which studied the corridors.

At least 25 per cent of the landscaping within each of those highway corridors would be dedicated to “signature shrubs.”

For example, the Alberta wild rose would be used along the Hwy 2A corridor.

“This is to give a sense of continuity,” Craig said.

Fencing and building guidelines are also included. The guidelines would affect 100 metres on either side of the highway.

Craig said the guidelines are meant to do three things: beautify the corridors, promote the region, and have the corridors operate safely for traffic.

Craig said the guidelines are building upon some of the development or zoning standards that have already been initiated.

“We’re just making this a joint venture between the city and the county,” Craig said. “Overall, the aim is to have beautiful corridors within the county and city, that tell a story about the (municipalities).”

The municipalities would review any permit applications to ensure they meet the guidelines.

Simon just hopes there’s better enforcement.

“I think guidelines are fabulous,” he said. “It’s the enforcement that has been terrible. The (county) doesn’t have the manpower to enforce them.”

Simon’s wife Jessie said the county recently pitched in several thousand dollars towards a regional tourism partnership called Gateway to the Badlands.

“It already has a good plan for keeping the history of Alberta alive,” she said. “I don’t know why this can’t be shared among groups. It seems like everybody is working on the same plan, but in pieces.”

The public open house drew more than 15 people.

Feedback will be brought back to a steering committee made up of county and city staff. It’s been meeting about nine months, Craig said.

A report, which will include preliminary cost estimates, will then be brought forward to city and county council in early 2009.

Contact Laura Tester at

ltester@reddeeradvocate.com