Development officer Carey Keleman says construction of an apartment building approved by the town in the old high school track and field area will have "buffers," between it and nearby homeowners, but that's about it.
In February, when bylaws enabling the property to be sold and redeveloped came up for passage by town council, letters opposing the development were submitted and at least one homeowner came forward saying the development will "completely change" his quality of life, increase density and likely lower his property value.
To minimize the impact of the development on the neighbourhood, the letter writers asked to prevent driveway access to the alley, a 10-metre landscape buffer and a fence.
During a Municipal Planning Commission (MPC) meeting July 20, MPC chair Don Dwyer said he attended a meeting on the matter.
He asked if the concerns presented during those discussions were resolved.
"The applicant met all the requirements of the land use bylaw so there were no relaxations or variances. And of course, apartments are a permitted use, so it did not have to come to the commission for approval," Keleman said.
"There's some nice tree buffers there to buffer between the apartment building and the (property) owners to the north. The alley is to be paved. That's pretty much it."
A variance is a change to standards outlined in the land use bylaw.
Dwyer asked if anyone in the neighbourhood appealed approval of the project.
"To appeal this particular approval they would have to appeal, basically, my interpretation of the land use bylaw. They can't appeal any permitted unless there was a variance," Keleman said.
The 3.37-hectare site used to serve as a track and field facility for Olds High School. But when the high school was moved to its present location adjacent to Olds College, the land was no longer needed for that purpose.
A plan for the area calls for construction of an access road to the area from Highway 27 between Grouchy Daddy's and the Grouchy Event Centre. It would end in a cul-de-sac.
Commercial development would be created in the south part of the land with residential development occurring in the north end.
Currently, sewer and water services are being installed. Once that's done, lots can be sold and developed, chief operating officer Scott Chant says.
When the area is fully built out, traffic signals would be installed there.
"There's some nice tree buffers there to buffer between the apartment building and the (property) owners to the north. The alley is to be paved. That's pretty much it."CAREY KELEMANDEVELOPMENT OFFICER TOWN OF OLDS
