Work camp development permit approved

Cold Lake, AB – A Development Permit for a Temporary Project Accommodation was approved at a Special Council Meeting on July 21, 2026.

The project is designed in three phases, with each phase capable of providing temporary accommodations for 500 people, plus 42 support staff, including on site security. The permit approved allows for the first two phases to be built consecutively. The third phase will be constructed pending the need for additional accommodations and will require an additional development permit to be approved.

The project will be located south of 47 Avenue and west of Highway 28, south of near the Iron Horse Trail staging area.

"There is a tremendous amount of development taking place in our community, particularly at 4 Wing Cold Lake," said Mayor Bob Mattice. "This accommodation is intended to house the temporary workforce that will be supporting the major construction and infrastructure upgrades occurring on the base."

The land for the project was zoned as Direct Control in June, meaning City Council must review and approve the development permit application before work can begin. This is the highest level of control a zone can be given. For other zones, Council does not typically need to look over the application, provided the development meets the zoning requirements.

The camp will include dormitory-style accommodations, dining and kitchen facilities, recreation amenities, parking, loading and servicing areas, internal roads, and transportation facilities. The developer also confirmed that the site will be operated as a dry camp.

“One of the things staff identified with the project will be the increased traffic flow to and from the site,” said Mattice. “This will require some infrastructure work on the City’s end to pave and curb an extended part of the road leading to the camp, as well as things like sidewalks and adjusting the timings on the traffic light that would allow people to turn left onto Highway 28.”

Financial contributions towards these required infrastructure upgrades are conditions attached to the development permit.

During the non-statutory public hearing portion of the meeting, Council heard from the developer’s representative. Council also heard from the Northern Lights Public School and Lakeland Catholic School Boards, which brought forward concerns regarding student safety, indigenous consultations, and impact the camp being built at the proposed location will have on the surrounding community.

After hearing the feedback, council discussed the proposal, the school boards’ concerns, and asked additional questions of the developer to ensure the camp will meet their expectations when it comes to community and environmental impacts.

“We can appreciate the concerns that are raised when the term ‘work camp’ is brought up,” said Mattice. “But there isn’t enough space in the community to house the workers coming in as it is. This is a professional camp, run by a professional company.”

Not all workers on the project will be staying in the temporary work camp. A number will also be staying in rental accommodations or hotels, and others will purchase homes to take advantage of long-term opportunities for themselves and their families in Cold Lake. Over the course of the project, workers will be accessing community amenities, and attending its celebrations, restaurants and retail outlets.

This demand will put pressure on the existing rental housing market, which is why Council has taken steps to incentivize a diverse set of housing options in the community. Incentives for starter homes, rental units, and secondary suited have all been put in place in an attempt to meet the coming demand.

The temporary work camp has been approved until July 20, 2029. The developer can request a three-year extension, which will be subject to Council’s approval. In the end, the camp will be deconstructed and removed once construction on 4 Wing is completed. To remediate the site, the developer identified take-down and tree-planting plans in their application.

Council will continue to monitor the progress of the camp as it is constructed in phases, to ensure it meets the bylaws and expectations of the City of Cold Lake.

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