Living in Okotoks

[Jbo]

NCHL offers a south league, so if hockey is importent that would be a must. I believe most games are played in Okotoks, Trico, South Fish Creek and Jack Setter

[kevman]

Maybe I over estimated how long it took me to drive to those arenas? No matter, it still felt far to long to me...

[Igottago]

Originally Posted by J-bo09

Not to mention the original travel to get home in the first place.

1 hour each way to the saddledome, plus 25 minutes each way to work and back = almost 3 hours of commuting in one day

Plus factor in winter driving conditions and it becomes an all out nightmare to go watch a Flames game on a Thursday night.

[bizaro86]

Originally Posted by troutman

Couldn't developers get around the population cap, by incorporating a new town, ex. West Okotoks?

I'm pretty sure the Municipal District of Rocky View has agreed to not allow that to happen.

[WCan_Kid]

Originally Posted by kevman

Well you're 60km's away from Bragg Creek so assuming you drive 120km/hr it's at least 30 minutes. I'm 35 minutes away from Bragg Creek (45 minutes during rush hour) from Sunnyside and only 35 minutes on the way home. Now I assumed you worked downtown as well (since that's normally how this conversations are based - if you work in Okotoks of course you should live there) but I can leave work at 5, be home by 5:15 and be at Ings Mine for a ride by 6:15. No way you can do that living in Okotoks if you work downtown.

No need for me to drive to Okotoks before going for a ride after work, though. I leave the office and go from there, going home is a nice relaxing cruise on open highway. If it's a weekend and I do leave from home, I take the back road out and never have to worry about traffic.

No doubt there are areas in the city that'll give you decent access to that area, it's what I like about Calgary compared to other cities I've lived in, but I've yet to be beaten out to the trailhead by any of my friends in the city (though to be fair none of them live on the far west side of the city).

[Sliver]

Originally Posted by kunkstyle

Wasn't your wife taking pictures of the view from my backyard not too long ago?

You get a pass...I like your place and your view is killer.

Plus, I like my bull-headed, stubborn Internet persona just the way it is - don't expose the real me please.

[Rerun]

[fundmark19]

Originally Posted by Sliver

You get a pass...I like your place and your view is killer.

Plus, I like my bull-headed, stubborn Internet persona just the way it is - don't expose the real me please.

You probably own like 6 dogs as well don't you Silver!!!!

[redforever]

Originally Posted by bizaro86

I'm pretty sure the Municipal District of Rocky View has agreed to not allow that to happen.

Okotoks is in Foothills MD, not Rocky View.

[pepper24]

Originally Posted by Table 5

But nobody has ever used that as a reason to live in Calgary, so I'm not sure what your point is.

What I'm saying is that to me it's puzzling to want to live in a small town, but live in the exact same type of neighborhood as you could live in a lot of communities that are within city limits. Both of these types of neighborhoods are hell in my books, but at least the one in Calgary makes a modicum of sense.

Well said. Bedroom communities like Airdrie and Okotoks are exactly the same as the deep suburbs within the Calgary city limit with cook cutter homes and similar strip malls. Nothing small town about them anymore. Just the typical suburb feel with a longer commute.

[PsnaP]

We have lived in Okotoks for almost 3 years and before moving, we took most of what is being talked about into consideration. My wife works downtown and took the commuter bus for a while. Now her company has given her a parking pass so she drives. For me... I walk to the driveway, get in my truck and Im at work. I play hockey in the winter and drive into the city for that. Both our families live in south Calgary... so we still do drive into the city for a lot of things. As far as the town it self, we love it. Sure it has its challenges and odd rules, but we would never move back to the city. Most of the rules set are to reduce energy consumption and reduce waste in the landfill. Theres lots of things to do for kids and all within a short distance from the house. Pool, rec centers, skate and BMX parks, movie theatre and other shops. Walmart, Costco, Home Depot (although I prefer Home Hardware), plus lots of mom and pop shops. Theres a few options when it comes to health care too. The hospital in High River is close and there is also one in Black Diamond. The wait times are minimal. A guy I play hockey with took a puck to the chin and drove to Black Diamond to get stitched up. He was in and out in 30 minutes compared to my 3 hour venture in the rocky view.

Guess youll have to take all things into consideration. Okotoks has lots to offer and still has a nice small town feel. You will have to think of what is important to you and go from there.

[bizaro86]

Originally Posted by redforever

Okotoks is in Foothills MD, not Rocky View.

An excellent point. But I do think they had agreed at one time to not develop the land surrounding Okotoks.

[Raekwon]

Originally Posted by bizaro86

An excellent point. But I do think they had agreed at one time to not develop the land surrounding Okotoks.

I thought it was a water supply issue?

[Cowperson]

Originally Posted by Raekwon

I thought it was a water supply issue?

Some time ago, the town commissioned a sustainable development report that indicated the Sheep River basin could sustain a town at a 30,000 population cap.

The town council of the time basically incorporated the 30,000 cap as a long-term mantra.

The MD of Foothills, I believe, recently granted permission for a development on the other side of Highway 7 - basically right next door to Okotoks - which would, for all intents and purposes, raise the population of the town or put pressure on the water resources of the area.

Generally, MD Foothills has been pretty good about maintaining the agricultural theme of the area. It's certainly no Springbank or even Rockyview.

In the end, the population cap is pretty ridiculous idealism since the citizens of the town only need to elect a development minded council to blow right through it. Or the MD Foothills will do it for them on the borders versus approving clusters on Ag land elsewhere in the MD.

Cowperson

[bizaro86]

Originally Posted by Raekwon

I thought it was a water supply issue?

Right. Okotoks capped their population many years ago at the amount of water they could get out of the sheep river. But they got the MD to agree not to develop the surrounding area. Otherwise, if the MD built "West Okotoks" right outside their boundary then they're not any better off.

Edited to Ad: Sounds like the MD might not be as good about not permitting development around Okotoks as I had heard, from cowperson's post above.

[flambers]

Positives about Okotoks

1) Doctor offices are really good... don't have the 1 hour wait time which seems to be normal in Calgary

2) If you have Pets, the Vet clinic is outstanding... They don't push the un-wanted procedures...

3) Schooling is really good.

4) Its expanding commericial wise. More development by Costco.

5) Sports programs are solid for Kids.


Negatives

1) If you work in the North part of Calgary, its a long drive. Highway can be bad during the Winter

2) Will they be forced to become a City. Population is really growing....

3) If you are looking to buy a home, I don't believe its any cheaper than Calgary.

[Raekwon]

Originally Posted by flambers

Positives about Okotoks

1) Doctor offices are really good... don't have the 1 hour wait time which seems to be normal in Calgary

Never had less than an hour wait in Okotoks

[flambers]

Originally Posted by Raekwon

Never had less than an hour wait in Okotoks

My family must have a really good Doctor in Okotoks...

[Raekwon]

Originally Posted by flambers

My family must have a really good Doctor in Okotoks...

Wait are we talking family doctors?

[Bunk]

Curious about businesses in Okotoks - are there any good independent restaurants or shops. Or is it pretty much chains? Never spent much time there.