Citing concerns about unfairness, city council did not approve slapping a height restriction on the future development of a large, subdivided downtown lot.
This means any building that crops up on the property created between the Baymont Inn and the Sierra Grande condominium complex does not have to be limited to four storeys.
The municipal planning commission had applied the four-storey limitation on this lot in 2018 after hearing privacy concerns expressed by condo residents.
But city administration had recommended that city council defeat this motion, as it would treat this lot differently than other C-1 commercial lots, which don’t have height restrictions imposed.
Councillors were told that any proposed commercial development over four storeys would be required to get approval in any case.
The lot is directly south of the Sierra Grande adult condominium complex, between 48th and 49th avenues and south of 45th Street.
It used to be the north-side parking lot of the Baymont Inn and Suites (formerly Red Deer Lodge), but was recently subdivided into its own property.
Coun. Ken Johnston said there are many ways to mitigate the neighbours’ concerns, including the way a building is designed, positioned on the lot, and landscaped.