BOWDEN -- Developers Lucas and Lindsay Brann, who are considering developing tiny homes in the community are looking at having land for the project surveyed, with a goal of moving ahead on it by May 1.
But the Branns are concerned about two aspects of the project: getting the land rezoned from commercial to residential; and the potential cost of having the alley paved. Lucas has received a quote from a paving firm which places that cost at between $40,000 and $44,000.
The Branns plan to develop seven small homes on a tract of land just west of the Bowden Hotel. They brought the idea to council late last year.
The energy-efficient homes would range from 384 square feet to about 500 square feet, including one-bedroom loft units and two-bedroom models.
The goal is to price them starting from under $100,000 so young people and those making minimum wage as well as retirees could afford them.
The Branns expressed their concerns during a Feb. 25 council meeting.
"The cost to pave the whole alley basically puts it right out of the ballpark. It would be not possible to front the entire cost to pave the alley," Lucas said.
"Being that we've gone from 14 lots potentially to seven, that's quite a challenge for income per lot," Lindsay said.
They said perhaps owners of the hotel and the Lions Club Hall which also sit alongside the alley would be willing to help pay the cost but they're doubtful that would happen.
"I just wanted to make sure that this was still something that could possibly go ahead before we start dumping money into this for no reason," Lucas said.
"We have until the beginning of May to have those two conditions removed. So we do have a lot of time. Well, not a lot of time, but we do have some time. It's not like it's 30 days or anything like that," he said.
Council told the Branns to leave those concerns with them; they'll get back to them.
"We should know by the end of March, probably," Mayor Robb Stuart said.
Lucas said in the meantime he'll likely have his surveyor begin work on getting the lots properly surveyed and titles transferred.
Councillors stressed how excited they are by the project.
During the meeting, the Branns distributed renditions of what the front of these homes could look like.
Councillors were impressed.
"Those are really nice. Well thought out; really well thought out," Coun. Carol Pion said.
Lindsay said people they know have expressed interest in the homes.
"It's pretty exciting. Actually it sounds like it's kind of a shock and awe kind of thing. 'So you're saying that you could buy a house...' It's just been so long since that's been an affordable concept," she said.
"Even the trades are intrigued by it, which is quite interesting, because I mean, think of how many houses they do. It's interesting that they start to get excited about something (like this)."
"Well in these troubled times in Alberta it's a really exciting project," Coun. Wayne Milaney said.
Councillors said decisions on the Branns' concerns will go first through the town's Municipal Planning Commission, then council.
"You have the full support of council," Stuart said.
"Yeah, absolutely," Pion added. "We are so excited about it and we're so glad that we're seeing you guys tonight and that things are going forward so fast."
The Branns said subtrades from around Central Alberta will be involved in construction of the homes; in most cases, firms they've worked with before on other projects.
