Dance Magic Studios is on the move.
The Red Deer dance and music training business, which operates out of the Collicutt Centre as well as Heritage Plaza North at 6200 67A St., wants to develop a new building at 6731 52nd Ave. It would relocate its Heritage Plaza North operations to the new site.
Plans for the two-storey building were presented to the city’s municipal planning commission on Wednesday. These contemplate approximately 12,000 square feet over the two levels, with Dance Magic to occupy the second floor. The main level would be leased out to a “compatible business,” the commission was told.
Commission members voted to give site development approval for the project, and also to relax the minimum number of parking stalls required under Red Deer’s land use bylaw to 28 from 36.
City staff said Dance Magic’s classes take place mainly in evening, with a majority of students dropped off and picked up, so the reduced parking should not be an issue. They also pointed out that a large part of the basement will be used for storage and will not generate traffic.
The commission was told that landscaping for the building would exceed municipal requirements.
This would include an enhanced landscape feature at the front of the building, which is east of Save-On-Foods on the southeast corner of the Normandeau subdivision.
The application was made by IMC Construction Ltd., but a Dance Magic employee later told the Advocate that the new premises will be much bigger than those it’s replacing.
She said there will be a second dance studio in the building, and the number of music rooms will increase to eight from two.
“It will mean big growth for our programs, and especially for our music programs.”