A bylaw amending the discretionary uses of land that's zoned highway commercial district was passed during town council's regular meeting Nov. 26.
A public hearing was held before the meeting started with no one from the public speaking for or against the bylaw, which would allow uses like drive-thru/express establishments, funeral homes, health services facilities and more to be allowable uses listed for the highway district.
Council passed second and third readings of the bylaw after first passing two motions to amend the uses.
The first was a suggestion by Coun. Heather Klein, who said crematoriums shouldn't be part of the discretionary uses allowed along the highway commercial district.
“I'm not opposed to crematoriums, they just need to be placed elsewhere,” she said. That amendment was passed by council.
A motion from Coun. Chad Hoffman to add accessory suites to the allowable uses list was passed unanimously as well.
During the public hearing Hoffman had suggested accessory suites to planner Jolene Tejkl of Parkland Community Planning Services.
Tejkl suggested apartments above businesses was more of a “downtown” concept.
“This area is going to be our future downtown core,” said Mayor Dennis Cooper.
The report from PCPS to council said the person applying for the amendment wanted to increase the saleability of commercial land in the Hawkridge development.
The amendments to the bylaw and second and third readings of the bylaw were passed unanimously by council, with Councillors Kathy Sitter and Danielle Klooster absent.
