Amid concerns of flooding, Red Deer’s municipal planning commission approved a redevelopment permit for a site adjacent to Coronation Park on Wednesday.
The 4535 52nd St. property in the Waskasoo neighbourhood enroaches slightly on the flood fringe, which raised questions about flooding and liability.
Milamco Ltd plans to build a 3,043-square-foot semi-detached dwelling on the site.
The commission tabled a decision at its July 31 meeting in order to seek legal opinion on potential exposure to liability based on the approval of the development.
City planning and development staff outlined conditions, including adding fill so that the property would be 30 cm above the one-in-100-year flood fringe level and the submission of future drawings to the city Engineering Department.
James Carmer of Milamco Ltd. agreed to the conditions and to raise the duplex slightly higher than the recommended 30 cm above the fringe level.
The owner will submit revised elevations to the development officer.
Citizen committee representative Jim Marke raised the concern in July that the city was taking an unnecessary risk by approving the permit. Marke was not convinced the conditions were sufficient in light of changing weather patterns.
Marke, voting against approval, said he was very uncomfortable voting in favour because the proposed project was very close to the flood fringe.