A new residential housing development now has the potential to move forward following council’s approval last week to redesignate a lot as Central Commercial District from Public Service District.
“A building permit application still requires to be submitted and approved,” Mike Marko, Sundre’s director of planning and economic development wrote in an email dated Wednesday, June 26.
“We issued a conditional development permit decision yesterday, but there are outstanding engineering and design matters that still need to be addressed in the conditions.”
Marko briefed council on the situation during the Monday, June 24 meeting during a public hearing that followed the prescribed advertising period for the proposed amendment to the land use bylaw.
The parcel, roughly one acre situated between Third and Fourth streets south along the alley running south of Main Avenue, is to be consolidated into an adjacent lot owned by the proponents who are interested in developing the land, he said.
“The effect of the amendment will allow for the development of a mixed use multi-residential and commercial development,” Marko told council.
“The residential component will consist of 24 residential units of various types,” he said, referring to one- to three-bedroom units.
“The main floor will also contain some commercial space of approximately 1,000 square feet for retail commercial opportunities,” he said, adding the process also involves a development permit consideration pending the completion of the redesignation as well as a subdivision to consolidate the land.
“There is a concurrent subdivision application which was recently approved for this parcel,” he said, adding the subdivision will also create a six-metre strip of land to protect the adjacent riparian area and shoreline of Prairie Creek that is just west of the proposed project.
“It’ll be protected as an environmental reserve easement,” he said.
The developer who owns the land, Strathmore Lakes Estate, is proposing a four-storey structure. The first level would be partially underground, including a parking area that will be slightly elevated above grade to allow for some flood proofing, he said, concluding his presentation by recommending council approve the bylaw.
Coun. Paul Isaac wanted to ensure all of the environmental considerations had been met, which Marko confirmed.
Coun. Todd Dalke wondered what guarantees were in place that all of the vehicles in the parking lot would not pose an environmental concern to the nearby creek as a result of, for example, oil leaks.
“The building will be designed to code standards to make sure that there is no runoff into the creek from the site,” said Marko.
“That’s a condition that would be attached to the development,” added Linda Nelson, chief administrative officer.
Something to consider moving forward as Sundre’s downtown core continues to grow, Isaac suggested that paving the alleys would eventually become necessary to better accommodate a corresponding increase in traffic.
Following the public hearing, during which no one expressed opposition, council later approve the land use bylaw amendment.
