A piece of former Michener Services land could be rezoned to develop affordable housing in Red Deer’s Clearview North.
An open house on changing the Clearview North Neighbourhood Area Structure Plan is being held on Thursday from 5 to 8 p.m. inside Kerry Wood Nature Centre at 6300 45th Ave.
The City of Red Deer owns the four-acre parcel along Caribou Crescent in the northwest corner of the neighbourhood. It was provided by the provincial government for affordable housing.
The amendment would replace a cul-de-sac and single family and multi-family residential designations with a multi-family residential/place of worship/assembly designation.
Michener Services provides home living and other supports to adults with developmental disabilities.
In 2008, the province announced it was changing its policy to allow surplus provincial land, including Michener Services land, for affordable housing.
Orlando Toews, senior planner with the city, said the province stipulated this four acres must be used for affordable housing.
“The shape of that four-acre parcel is a little different than what is shown in the Neighbourhood Area Structure Plan and the uses are a little different,” said Toews on Monday.
“It’s a change from the original plan, but nothing is firmed up about the shape of things that would develop on there.”
The type of housing would likely be row houses or apartment-style. There wouldn’t be a cul-de-sac going into that site as well, he said.
Toews said the land is just an open area or farmland.
There are no specific plans on what a multi-family development could end up looking like, said Toews.
City administration is also suggesting a Direct Control District for that four acres. This type of district is used when there are unique circumstances and so, typically, council is the authority.
Instead of going to the municipal planning commission or going to the development officer for a development permit, the information goes directly to council and they deal with it, Toews said.
ltester@www.reddeeradvocate.com