A proposal by Red Deer Catholic Social Services to relocate its operations to the Riverlands area has met with opposition.
The agency has applied for a development permit to change the use of a 5589 47th St. commercial building to allow for office space there. Its existing downtown premises at 5104 48th Ave. have become inadequate, with recent flooding exacerbating the problem, said Marc Barylo, chief development and community relations officer with Catholic Social Services.
The organization wants to lease about 18,600 square feet of the two-storey Riverlands building, which overlooks the Red Deer River, for up to five years while it seeks alternate space. But that’s prompted objections, Red Deer’s municipal planning commission heard on Monday.
The city’s Greater Downtown Action Plan committee is arguing that this use wouldn’t promote the high-density residential development envisioned for the area. It said the downtown core would be a better location.
“Our concern is that if this went in as a temporary use that it may, like so many uses in the downtown, become a permanent use or be one where there will be enormous difficulty in them finding an alternative site,” said city manager Craig Curtis.
Residents of The Quarry, a four-storey condominium to the west of the Riverlands building, raised concerns about traffic, parking and the impact on property values.
The city’s Inspections and Licensing Department supports the project, noting that the Riverlands area is in transition and unlikely to be redeveloped for several years. Parkland Community Planning Services also supports the application.
Catholic Social Services indicated to the commission that approximately 400 clients and 40 office staff would use the building. Counselling services and training workshops would be conducted there, as would meetings of support groups. Administrative and outreach staff would use office space.
“Catholic Social Services, to meet the needs of your citizens, our current space is not doing it,” Barylo said at the meeting. “We need more space.”
A yoga studio and a small café are also proposed for the building, and a relaxation of the minimum number of parking stalls to 29 from the 47 required under the city’s land use bylaw is being sought.
Lyle Beck, who owns the building with his wife Lisa, said parking would not be a problem. He added that redevelopment of the Riverlands area will not occur for five to 10 years, and that he and his wife have been unsuccessful in finding residential or commercial tenants.
Councillor Buck Buchanan suggested that Catholic Social Services work with the city to explore other options for space. He presented a motion to table the application for three weeks so that this could occur and the motion passed.
Last August, Catholic Social Services received development approval to add two floors to its existing single-storey building and perform other renovations there. But Barylo said after Monday’s meeting that concerns about a high water table and the stability of the ground inflated costs. There are also issues with respect to water drainage that need to be addressed, he added.
“The extra significant dollars were such that it just didn’t make a lot of sense at that time.”
However, if Catholic Social Services can’t find another location, it might have to rebuild its offices at that site from scratch, said Barylo. In the meantime, the agency is struggling to maintain its services.
“We only have half the space currently because of the flooding issue and we’re trying to get it repaired.
“It is a significant issue for our service provision.”
hrichards@www.reddeeradvocate.com