OLDS — Multi-family housing in Phase 7 of the Vistas Area Structure Plan will now be allowed under an amendment to the plan passed by town council.
The change allows zoning in that phase to include structures such as duplexes or townhomes instead of just single-family detached homes.
“The developer has applied for this. They have interest in partnering with somebody to develop that specific phase for those types of dwellings,” municipal planner Kyle Sloan told council earlier this month.
Sloan reiterated a point he made during a previous council appearance: that despite the increase in dwelling density this change will allow, the overall population of the Vistas is projected to fall.
He said that’s because since the original plan was developed in 2008, the average number of people per dwelling has fallen from 2.5 people to 2.3, according to the 2021 Statistics Canada census.
A second key change in the plan, also approved by council, is adding another option for water distribution.
It would connect the water line straight west along Vista Drive toward the town’s operations centre.
Sloan noted that the Town of Olds already has a utility right-of-way along that alignment and there is a sewer line there as well.
“This is the preferred alignment of administration and the developer at this point, and it wasn’t in the 2008 plan, so it is important to add it to the area structure plan,” Sloan said.
The proposed changes were circulated to neighbouring property owners and agencies.
Sloan said feedback was received from ATCO, Alberta Health Services and Alberta Transportation, none of whom had any concerns about the proposed amendment.
