A Red Deer hotel/apartment complex wants to be like any other downtown commercial property and not have to provide off-street parking for customers.
Owners of Baymont by Wyndham want the City of Red Deer to lift a site exception that now requires any commercial developments on its property at 4311 and 4415-49th Avenue to provide off-street parking for its customers.
The owners argue Baymont by Wyndham should be treated like any other business in C-1 zoning, which does not require off-street parking. City administration is supporting this application.
But about 50 people — mostly residents of the nearby Sierra Grand Seniors Living condos — sent in written notices of opposition to the city.
While many respondents did not elaborate on why they were opposed, some focused on potential impacts of traffic and noise. The feared more on-street parking could also create a visual eye-sore, impact property values, and draw more crime. And the residents were leery about what could be built on the site in future.
City administrators responded that any developments could generate traffic and noise, “but this is expected in a downtown. If on-street parking is a concern in this area it should be acknowledged that the two subject parcels have a combined total of 489 on-site parking stalls,” stated the report to council.
City council gave the amendment first reading to be able to hear from the public on the matter at a hearing on Monday, May 27.