Red Deer County and the Town of Bowden have reached a deal that would see the town annex 215 acres of land located to its southwest.

That includes a quarter-section featuring a lift station and wastewater lagoon; 35 acres of undeveloped land adjoining the west boundary of the railway containing a non-operating landfill; and 8.2 hectares of land including the W.A. Grain processing plant, the only assessable property in the annexation area, reads a report presented to county council.

Bowden already owns these lands, even though they fall outside its corporate boundaries. They are serviced by roads, utilities and a wastewater line.

County Mayor Jim Wood said the county has a stake in the town’s growth, as the W.A. Grain plant is expanding its operations.

“I think it’s very beneficial. Because I think it’s important that every community within our region – we all need to be successful. When a community grows, there’s more opportunity for their success,” Wood said after county council on July 4.

“I think it’s extremely important that we work with our communities so that we all have an appropriate tax base and I think this will definitely help Bowden and their situation.”

The Municipal Government Board, a quasi-judicial body under Municipal Affairs that makes decisions about land planning and assessment, will decide on Bowden's annexation application. There is no time limit for that to happen.

Formal notice of annexation was given in March.

The background report on annexation negotiations between the two parties states much of the land has "little development potential."

Alberta Environment and Alberta Health restrictions limit what can be done with lands containing the lagoon and landfill, it reads.

"It is not anticipated that any of the lands would be suitable or desirable for residential, retail commercial or places of assembly such as community halls, places of worship or school sites."

The lands in yellow are the ones Bowden seeks to annex from Red Deer County.