Residents of Red Deer's oldest neighbourhood are launching a legal battle to protect their community from unwanted development.
A Parkvale Community Association resident and lawyer plans to file an injunction in Red Deer Court of King's Bench next week as part of the community's effort to prevent new developments residents fear will threaten the unique character of the 120-year-old neighbourhood.
More than 50 residents gathered at Pioneer Lodge on Tuesday to voice their concerns about proposed changes to Land Use Bylaw regulations that they fear will open the door to four-plexes, backyard and garage suites and other density-boosting developments.
"There were a lot of strong feelings and comments made about what's happening with development and what feels like a lack of communication and consultation with residents in the neighbourhood," said community association past-president Dawna Morey on Thursday.
More than 20 years ago, a Land Use Bylaw was passed that recognized the community's unique place in the city's history and protected the character of its streets, which include a number of century-old homes.
"That appears to be no longer the case," said Morey, adding a previous designation of Parkvale as a historical neighbourhood appears to have been replaced by a designation as a "developed neighbourhood."
Last year, City of Red Deer launched an overhaul of its Zoning Bylaw and Parkvale residents fear that review will allow more development – or in many minds, over-development – in their neighbourhoods.
The awarding to the city of $12 million in funding over three years through Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation's Housing Accelerator Fund last month has created further unease because of the strings attached.
A key condition of the funding is the adoption of four-units-as-of-right zoning, which would allow up to four residential units on eligible properties without requiring public consultation or rezoning approvals.
Council is not expected to make a decision until late this year or early next year. In the meantime, a public consultation process will be rolled out later this spring to get feedback.
Morey said residents worry that if the funding is accepted, multi-family housing could be shoehorned into Parkvale lots.
Parkvale residents also question why the city is considering boosting density in their quiet corner of the city when there are plenty of undeveloped lots, including at Capstone, which the city has been promoting for years as a key residential-commercial future growth area.
"Why not focus on developing there or the empty lots downtown?"
Morey said she could not yet go into specifics on the pending legal action, but hopes it sends a clear message and encourages the community to sit up and take notice of what is at stake.
"I hope what it does is inspires people to become involved in their neighbourhoods, how they want their neighbourhoods to look, how they want them to develop, how they want them to be cared for."
