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Value of neighbourhood ‘character statements’ debated by Red Deer city council

It won’t stop more ‘intensified’ redevelopment
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Some of the re-development in Woodlea (photo by LANA MICHELIN/Advocate staff).

It won’t stop higher density redevelopment of an older Red Deer neighbourhood, but will ensure the “flavour” of Woodlea is retained, city council determined.

The majority of Red Deer city council voted Monday to adopt Woodlea Character Statements that took three years of community consultations to develop.

As area resident Jane Proudlove stated, “this gives us a guideline on how to move forward” – even though the plan “pitted neighbour against neighbour,” as aspects of Woodlea’s special qualities were debated.

Things like setbacks, green spaces, house design details, and whether to have front driveway access, were thoroughly discussed and noted. The plan also identified differences between Central Woodlea and other parts of the neighbourhood called by the historic monikers Chinese Market and Nazarene Camp.

Some area residents supported the character statements, but were still dismayed they didn’t protect the neighbourhood from developers who, by obtaining a site exception, could still build something that goes against standards.

“It doesn’t have the teeth we were anticipating,” said Proudlove.

For instance, resident Peter Slade was concerned carriage homes could crop up on some of the neighbourhood’s large lots, as one applicant had already sought.

This issue was shelved until a city-wide study can be done looking at the possible locations for these secondary dwelling in all city neighbourhoods.

Several landowners opposed the Character Statements.

Gary Oosterhoff felt they could stand in the way of “creative” multi-family redevelopments, while Ken Duhamel feared it could block “innovative designs that could make more efficient utilization of land intensification.”

But city planning director Tara Lodewyk, noted the city has higher density targets for all neighbourhoods. She said, “Density is not included in this study.”

While Councillors Dianne Wyntjes and Tanya Handley could not support the Statements, most of council favoured them.

Councillors Lawrence Lee, Michael Dawe, Frank Wong, Ken Johnston, and Vesna Higham spoke about the value in identifying key characteristics of an older area that were worth holding on to.

Neighbourhoods are never static, said Lee, but growth can be done in a respectful way if certain principles and guidelines are followed. Johnston believes the character statements captured the “flavour” of Woodlea.

Waskasoo was the first Red Deer neighbourhood to go through this process.



lmichelin@reddeeradvocate.com

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