About 25 Waskasoo residents entered Red Deer city council chambers wearing red, aiming to stop a proposed four-storey seniors’ apartment building from being built next to Gateway Christian School.
Traffic, density and environmental considerations were the group’s major objections. “We have enough high-rise apartments and developments,” said group members Eric Touche, outside council chambers on Monday.
“We have enough traffic and pollution. If anything, they should put a soccer field there,” Touche added.
The group will be allowed to provide feedback directly to council at a special public hearing set for May 3 since councillors passed first reading for the rezoning on Monday.
The Waskasoo Community Association opposes an application by East Lincoln Properties to rezone a property next to the schoolyard to multifamily zoning. This land now has public service zoning.
This 4.6-acre parcel, containing a row of mature trees, used to belong to the Chinook’s Edge School division and was part of the schoolyard of River Glen School.
But in 2015, the corner portion of the property was subdivided from the schoolyard by Chinook’s Edge — which then sold the schoolyard next door to the Red Deer Public School division. It is now being used for Gateway Christian School.
The subdivided corner lot, next to 45th Avenue was purchased several years ago by East Lincoln Properties, which wants to create a multi-family residential development on it. The landowner also wants to amend the Waskasoo Area Redevelopment Plan (ARP) to accommodate the future proposed development.
City administration is supporting this proposal. A report to council stated the application complies with the Municipal Development Plan, which encourages a variety of housing choices and efficient use of lands.
The city report states the land is privately owned and not a public park. Even in the current public service zoning, it could be developed as an assisted living facility, “and multi-family apartment style uses are very similar in scale and use intensity.”
But the Waskasoo association says the lot is in a key environmental location because of its proximity to the river, Waskasoo Creek and Gaetz Lakes.
They say the treed lot helps filter stormwater run-off before it enters the Red Deer River, is a wildlife corridor (adjacent to one of central Alberta’s only chipmunk habitats), and is one of the only sections of riverbank in the city that does not have protective buffer.
The Waskasoo residents also argue 45th Avenue is “350 per cent over-capacity,” used by over 3,500 students and staff of nearby schools, as well motorists driving to Gaetz Lakes, McKenzie Trail, the Memorial Centre etc.
More than 60 per cent of dwellings in Waskasoo are already multifamily, the group stated in a leaflet, compared to 20 per cent elsewhere in the city.
But not all Waskasoo residents are in opposition. One woman walking by the property on Tuesday remarked it would be nice to have the option to continue living in Waskasoo as she ages.
In a letter to the City of Red Deer, East Lincoln Properties stated the proposed development would provide accommodations for independent seniors, giving Waskasoo residents the opportunity to age in place longer in their own community.
East Lincoln Properties Corp., which has operated in Red Deer for 32 years, has held various community information sessions, one-on-one interviews, and meetings with stakeholders about the project, including the community association.
“We acknowledge that change can be difficult, but our intention is to benefit the community long-term,” the letter states. “As such, we are evaluating the incorporation of underground parking, wildlife corridors, dark sky lighting, a (filtered stormwater channel), review of necessary fencing, environmentally conscious building materials, student safety, parking limitations, traffic access and retention of mature landscaping.”
More will be heard from both sides at the 5 p.m. hearing on May 3.
lmichelin@reddeeradvocate.com
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