Rezoning a triangular piece of land that sits between Clearview Market and the 67th Street/30th Avenue roundabout passed first reading at city council on Monday.
The intention is for the city-owned 10.5-acre parcel to be sold for eventual commercial development to expand Clearview Market.
The land includes a portion of the old, curved road that used to join together 67th Street and 30th Avenue and is no longer in use with opening of the roundabout.
City council also approved first reading to formally close that section of unused road.
Coun. Paul Harris said the ability to sell this piece of land was made possible by good and careful planning of the roundabout. Other designs would have used more land.
Prior to first readings, a few businesses did raise concerns about a lack of parking they said already exists in some areas of Clearview Market.
Senior city planner Orlando Toews said there is 10 per cent more parking at Clearview Market than other district shopping centres.
“Because of the layout there might be some pinch points within Clearview Market where there’s a higher demand for parking. But as a whole it’s not that there isn’t parking. It’s that people maybe don’t get the parking spot they want,” Toews said.
He said there is some parking flexibility, for example, near banks when banks are closed.
Businesses were also worried about access to them during construction because access was limited during roundabout construction.
Administration said construction should have minimal impact on businesses.
Toews said Clearview Market is still required to be pedestrian friendly and how that will be achieved will be determined by commercial plans put forward.
Once the land is sold, a developer will have to submit an application for a development permit that shows the detailed location of buildings, parking, and landscaping.
Coun. Lynne Mulder said maybe the city should do a review to see if enough is being done to focus on making the area pedestrian friendly as the city originally intended.
“I don’t know if it’s been successful. I don’t see a lot of people walking there. It would be great if we could revisit that and how we can get people walking,” Mulder said.
First readings triggered a joint public hearing that will be held in four weeks.
szielinski@reddeeradvocate.com