The Spur: Small by Design, Built to Move Ranchlands Forward

Spur [spər] 

Noun

• something projecting like or suggesting a spur
• an angular projection, offshoot, or branch extending out beyond or away from a main body or formation
• a device with a small spike or a spiked wheel that is worn on a rider's heel and used for urging a horse forward
• a short, pointed growth or process on a part of the body.

Verb

• Promote the development of; stimulate
• Give an incentive or encouragement to (someone)

What's in a name?

As the name for a small group of houses, The Spur might seem a bit idiosyncratic at first thought. Beyond the obvious country western connotations – Ranchlands, anyone? – there’s a deeper connection to the neighbourhood and its origins. As a noun, a spur is an offshoot: something extending away from a larger body. As a verb, to spur is to stimulate, encourage or create momentum. Both meanings fit the City of Medicine Hat’s newest addition to Ranchlands.

The Spur is a compact extension of the Ranchlands development positioned along the south/east side of Ranchlands Boulevard NE, where 10 new single-family residential lots are being developed. In the most literal sense, its name describes exactly what it is: a small branch extending from the larger Ranchlands neighbourhood.

But the name also speaks to what the project represents.

A measured return to development

The Spur marks renewed City development activity in Ranchlands after several years of relatively limited activity (from a lot development perspective) in the area. Rather than beginning another large phase all at once, the project takes a more focused approach: add a small number of lots, respond to current demand and continue building out an established neighbourhood.

That approach reflects the direction established in the City’s 2025–2030 Land and Real Estate Strategy. The Strategy calls for land development decisions to be informed by customer feedback, market trends and financial data, while emphasizing collaboration with residents, builders, developers and other stakeholders. It also specifically identifies Ranchlands as an area where opportunities for further residential development should be revisited.

The Spur is a practical example of those principles at work. It is not a wholesale expansion of Ranchlands. It is a deliberate next step.

Listening to the neighbourhood

The land where The Spur is being built was originally intended for medium-density residential development. This new development will feature single family housing, however, as the zoning eventually changed to low-density residential in 2016. That change matters because neighbourhoods evolve. Plans created before streets are built and homes are occupied do not always reflect the community that eventually takes shape. Feedback from residents helped reshape the direction for this site to better reflect the established character of Ranchlands.

That thinking also connects to the myMH Master Plan, Medicine Hat’s long-range Municipal Development Plan. Under its focus on livable neighbourhoods, myMH identifies cohesive neighbourhoods, supported by an appropriate mix and structure of land uses and densities, as a priority. The City’s broader growth planning also emphasizes completing existing neighbourhoods before opening new areas.

Good planning, in other words, is not simply about following a plan created years earlier. While executing the vision of a neighbourhood is important that neglects the developing realities on the ground. No, good planning and development also means understanding how a neighbourhood has developed and making decisions that help it continue to grow cohesively.

Listening to the market

Residents were not the only voices considered as feedback from Medicine Hat’s builders and real estate community also helped inform the design of The Spur. One recurring concern was lot width. In some recent City developments, including Saamis Heights, some lots were built at approximately 34 feet wide or 10.4 meters. Those smaller lots were intended to introduce different housing options and serve buyers with different property needs and budgets.

But narrower lots also limit the types of homes that can be built on them. Certain designs with front-drive access, double garages or wider entrances simply require more frontage. The 10 lots within The Spur respond to that feedback and delivers the kinds of lots desired by the construction and real estate community. Ranging from 44 to 52 wide, the lots in The Spur provide builders with greater flexibility and create opportunities for home designs that can be difficult to accommodate on narrower lots.

The lesson is not that one lot size is inherently better than another. The lots within Saamis Heights, for example, are completely sold and construction continues to this day. No, it is that land development needs to respond to current market conditions while still supporting the City’s broader planning objectives. That principle is built directly into the Land and Real Estate Strategy, which calls for ongoing relationships with builders and developers and an adaptable, phased approach to development that can respond as market demand changes. The Spur represents exactly that.

A small project that signals a larger shift

The Spur may be only 10 lots, but it represents a broader change in how the City approaches its land portfolio. The Land and Real Estate Strategy calls for a modern approach built around data-based decisions, market awareness, collaboration and adaptability. Its residential analysis identifies a modest long-term need for additional housing and anticipates that single-detached homes will remain an important part of local demand, while recognizing that consumer preferences and market conditions will continue to change.

That makes measured development important. The Spur responds to neighbourhood feedback. It responds to builder feedback. It adds new housing within an existing development area. And it moves Ranchlands forward incrementally rather than assuming that bigger and faster are always better. That is ultimately what makes the name fit. A spur is an offshoot. But it is also something that creates momentum. For Ranchlands, these 10 lots are intended to be both.

The Bigger Picture

The Spur is representative of a larger shift in our approach to developing land and neighbourhoods. It shows our commitment as a department to listening to feedback, adapting development plans to the conditions of the community instead of vice versa, and taking a measured approach to our overall activities. Members of the general public interested in a lot within The Spur are encouraged to reach out to a builder.

Builders interested in a lot within The Spur can sign up for our lot lottery to get first pick at one of the available lots during our Bites & Builders event September 24th, 2026. To register for the lot lottery, please click the button and fill out the online form below.