Spring in a New Community

Spring has sprung and although this seasonal change can be refreshing, it can come with challenges when living in a new community. To help make the seasonal transition smoother, we’ve outlined a few common springtime issues and who to contact if they come up.

Melting Snow

As temperatures rise, and snow and ice begin to melt, resident may notice some temporary inconveniences.

Garbage: Many homeowners in a new community may notice that construction and landscaping activities generate significant amounts of garbage and debris. Spring thaw reveals what’s been hiding under the snow—construction debris, windblown trash, and leftover materials. Spring and winter gusts of wind commonly blow debris from both the ground and filled garbage bins around the community. As the developer of the community, we actively work to manage garbage with our builders, trades, and contractors.
Damage: Any construction damage that was not able to be addressed in the fall or caused during the winter months will become evident when the ground is clear.
Roads: Snow melt has a direct impact on the quality of the roads within the community. As the snow recedes, gravel, mud, and other debris may become more visible on streets—especially in areas with ongoing construction. The combination of melting snow and active site work often leads to dirt being tracked onto the roads by trade and contractor vehicles, resulting in temporary mess. While this can be frustrating, it’s a normal part of seasonal change in a developing neighbourhood and will improve as regular street sweeping and maintenance begin in the spring.
Pooling: During the freeze/thaw cycle pooling may occur as the ground thaws and stormwater systems begin to manage larger volumes of runoff. Stormwater infrastructure is designed to acceptwater gradually, helping to prevent system overload and downstream flooding. This means that some areas, particularly around storm drains or swales, may appear to hold water longer than expected—but this is part of the system functioning as intended. These areas are engineered to slowly filter water into the stormwater system, reducing the risk of overwhelming underground pipes during rapid snowmelt or rainfall. You can find more information about storm ponds on our storm water blog here.
Mud: As the thawing ground becomes saturated, muddy conditions will arise in most areas of the community —particularly in spots where landscaping has not yet been completed. Fortunately, this is only temporary and will improve as the ground dries and stabilizes. Many un-landscaped areas are scheduled for completion as construction progresses.

Construction

Warmer weather is often accompanied by increased construction activity. As conditions improve, you might notice more construction taking place in your community. This also means that higher levels of noise may need to be tolerated for the duration of these projects. Noise bylaws are different for each municipality, see the noise bylaws in your area below:

Rocky View County: Noise Control Bylaws

Monday – Saturday: 7:00am – 10:00pm
Sunday & Holidays: 9:00am – 10:00pm

City of Calgary: Noise on Residential Properties

Monday – Saturday: 7:00am – 10:00pm
Sunday & Holidays: 9:00am – 10:00pm

City of Chestermere: Community Standards Bylaw

Monday – Friday: 7:00am – 10:00pm
Saturday, Sunday, & Holidays: 9:00am – 10:00pm

Town of Cochrane: Noise Control Bylaw

Monday – Saturday: 7:00am – 10:00pm
Sunday & Holidays: 9:00am – 10:00pm

If you notice disruptive levels of noise outside of these hours, or if you have any concerns, please send an email to customercare@qualicocommunities.com.

Increased trade activity calls for a reminder to all residents to proceed throughout the community with a bit of extra caution, whether that be when driving on the roads, walking the pathways or sidewalks, or playing in the parks.

Landscaping

Spring also marks the return of active landscaping, planting, and community beautification throughout the community. Similarly to construction work, these activities might bring about higher levels of noise, mess, and traffic. While this can require a little patience, all of these efforts significantly add to the overall value and aesthetic appeal of the community.

Homeowners may notice trees being planted in front of their homes, on medians, or in other parts of the community. It is likely that these are boulevard trees, and if you are curious about their placement and purpose, feel free to check out our previous blog on boulevard trees here. Boulevard trees in a community are mandatory and are approved at the municipal level, which refers to the City, County, Town, or Municipality.

Street Sweeping

Although there are numerous advantages to being one of the first households in a new community, it is sometimes necessary to exercise patience with the dirt, debris, and debris left behind by substantial construction activity. Once the weather permits, the developer implements a weekly street sweeping to mitigate these issues.

The transition between winter and spring can bring about temporary challenges; however, these minor disruptions are a part of the process of establishing a community that residents are proud to call home.

If you have any questions or concerns about any content covered in this blog, such as:

Road conditions
Street sweeping
Damage in public areas
Landscaping questions
Construction concerns

Please contact us at customercare@qualicocommunities.com and we will do our best to address your concerns.