The Blackfalds Bulldogs hockey team will be able to train in North Red Deer in future, following a city council rezoning of a north-side property.
On Monday, council finalized the rezoning of 6798-52 Ave. from industrial to IC industrial/commercial.
The city’s major projects manager David Girardin told council the property owner wants to add commercial facilities for managing and training for the Blackfalds Bulldogs hockey team in the building.
The idea is to use some of the space for a management office and to also install a private gym and training area for the players, he added.
Although there’s still some industrial operations in this building, Girardin said the owner envisions transitioning part of the property for more commercial uses — similar to what’s occurred elsewhere on this block.
Council heard more than half of the buildings on 52nd Avenue, between 67th and 68th Streets, now have some commercial operations. Girardin said this is likely because of the proximity to Gaetz Avenue and 67th Street.
No one at the hearing spoke against the rezoning. Troy Spelt, of Camden Construction, spoke in favour of it, saying the building’s owner would like to invest to update this 1960s building for more mixed-uses.
Council unanimously approved the rezoning at second and third reading of the bylaw.