Red Deer’s municipal planning commission has approved the development of a 24-unit residential building on the city’s South Hill, despite the fact its site falls 46 per cent short of the minimum area required under the land use bylaw.
The commission reviewed an application by IMC Construction Ltd. for the project on Wednesday.
Plans call for a three-storey building on 3430, 3434 and 3438 49th. Ave., with the three houses that are currently there to be demolished.
The building would include 25 parking stalls in an underground parkade and 15 above ground, with the first floor elevated 1.5 metres above grade to accommodate the parkade. The total height of the building would be 46.2 feet.
The property covers 18,340 square feet, well short of the 34,100-square-foot minimum for such a structure.
But the commission was told that the underground parkade will free up enough surface area for all landscaping and setback requirements to be met.
The commission also heard that other multi-family buildings have been developed in the mixed-use neighbourhood.
Notices sent to area residents prompted three letters of support and four others that raised concerns about parking, traffic, overly dense development and other issues.
Members of the commission were mixed in their assessment of the building’s design, but they commented favourably on the underground parkade and the fact an elevator would make it easily accessible.
The building will face the new kindergarten-to-Grade 12 Francophone school being developed on the east side of 49th Avenue. Coun. Cindy Jefferies said the abundance of green space in the area makes a higher-density development appropriate for the site.