CARSTAIRS – At its regular meeting on Nov. 14, Carstairs town council approved an amendment to Land Use Bylaw 1023 that will allow redesignation of 21 hectares of land located east of Highway 2A (Marygold), north of the Carstairs Golf Course.
A total of 18.11 hectares of land are subject to the application. The area is currently designated Direct Control Business Park (DCBP).
The proposed land use designation would be low density residential – single detached district (R1) to accommodate more than 200 single detached residential lots.
A strip of commercial land (1.93 ha) and a portion of land designated PRF (1.45 ha) are included in the block, but are not being redesignated.
Prior to the council meeting, the town held a public hearing on the issue.
“Our planning department gave a presentation to council,” said Carl McDonnell, CAO. “The developer was there as well, presenting what they're looking at in changing from business park to single family.”
The next step would be for developers to present the town with an area structure plan, he said.
“They need to show us the layout, the roadways, the housing, the alleyways, any park space, that type of thing,” he said. “And then give us detailed drawings on the infrastructure, the water, the sewer, the storm, and transportation.
“Once all that has been accepted they would be looking at starting stripping, grading and building. Depending on how fast they get their information in over the winter they could be looking at starting in the spring.”
In other council news, several residents from Carstairs Links subdivision spoke during question period about problems with the sidewalks in their neighbourhood.
“In that subdivision there's a separate sidewalk,” he said. “Typically in most subdivisions there is a monolithic sidewalk, which is the sidewalk next to the roadway, and the curb and sidewalk are poured together.
“This one is separate where you've got the curb on the roadway and then there's a boulevard and the sidewalk runs up on the boulevard.”
Council was told that the sidewalk is causing issues because pedestrians have to cross residents' driveways to continue walking down the sidewalk.
“The request is (for the town) to remove the sidewalk in that area,” he said.
All but two residents, who were unavailable, were in agreement with the sidewalk coming out.
Council instructed administration to bring back a report and recommendation on whether or not to pull the sidewalk out.
"They need to show us the layout, the roadways, the housing, the alleyways, any park space, that type of thing."Carl McDonnellCarstairs CAO
