An application to rezone land along 19th Street in Southbrook for commercial development has some city councillors concerned.
On Monday council heard about an application to rezone a 9.76-acre parcel at 4718 19th St. to commercial major arterial district (C4) and environmental preservation district (A3).
The parcel is on the north side of 19th Street and on the east side of Piper Creek. Immediately north and east is future developable land that is still being used for agricultural purposes.
The applicant is proposing to build six to seven commercial buildings on the land over the next three to five years. The initial development is anticipated to be a three storey retail/commercial facility.
Schools, hospitals, food establishments, and residential use would be prohibited by Alberta Environment because the land is located within 300 metres of a non-operating landfill which is now the location of Oxbows Off Leash Dog Park.
Council passed first reading of proposed bylaw amendment of the Land Use Bylaw to redesignate the land in order to allow a hearing be held to gather public feedback. The public hearing will be held July 10 at 6 p.m. prior to second and third readings.
Mayor Tara Veer said the restrictions don’t leave many uses left if the parcel was zoned C4.
“When I think about what some of those uses could be, I don’t know that they are necessarily appropriate to this location, particularly with the proximity to the Westerner as well as Oxbows and the vision for the area and the proximity to Piper Creek,” Veer said.
“I do have concern about traffic in the area. We deferred construction at the corner of 19th Street and 40th Avenue for a couple of reasons. One of those was the fact that the Westerner is updating their site vision as well so we don’t have a good sense of interplay on traffic.”
Councillors Buck Buchanan was worried about traffic congestion when there are big events like hockey games at the Westerner. Coun. Dianne Wyntjes, who drives 19th Street regularly, said the road is already busy.
Coun. Paul Harris said he was not sure the proposed zoning was the right zoning for the parcel.
szielinski@reddeeradvocate.com