Home Depot plans to lease out a piece of land off Gaetz Avenue in south Red Deer for commercial use.
On Monday, the city’s municipal planning commission approved the development of a 5,000-square-foot building at the northeast corner of its property at 2030 Gaetz Ave.
Ajay Shah, an associate of Omicron representing Home Depot, told the commission that the building would be split in half and used by such businesses as a small restaurant or beauty supply store. Uses have not been confirmed.
“Construction could start some time in February, weather allowing, otherwise it could start in March or April,” Shah said.
It would take three to four months to build.
MPC approved a parking relaxation of 10 parking stalls for the development.
When Home Depot was built in 2001, with an addition for tool rental in 2003, MPC approved 570 stalls — a relaxation of 81 stalls or 12 per cent. Parking regulations under the land use bylaw have since changed to require less parking, so the new development requires an additional 20 stalls. The further relaxation of 10 stalls gives Home Depot a total parking relaxation of 14.8 per cent.
MPC member Larry Thomsen did not approve of the relaxation.
“They are asking for almost 15 per cent relaxation and I’m very, very concerned about that. I don’t think it’s healthy for the city to do this kind of relaxation time and time again.”
Thomsen and another commission member opposed the project plans.