Red Deer City Council rejected Red Deer Native Friendship Society’s proposal to build affordable housing and a cultural centre in Clearview North because of local opposition.
However, council pledged on Monday evening to work with the society to find a more suitable location for the centre with neighbouring affordable housing units.
Several councillors suggested that given the amount of neighbourhood opposition allowing the project to go ahead would not have worked.
“I think we are setting it up to fail,” said Coun. Lynne Mulder, one of seven council members to vote against changing a Neighbourhood Area Structure Plan to allow for the project.
Mulder said she believes strongly in the project but another site must be found.
Mayor Morris Flewwelling said the city worked hard to make the project happen, but council must listen to the public when making decisions.
“I would just like to say, God knows we tried with this project,” he said. “Council worked with all comers.”
The focus must be switched now to making it work somewhere else because affordable housing is needed in Red Deer, he said.
Council voted unanimously on a separate resolution to work with the Friendship Society and the urban aboriginal community to advance their objectives to develop a cultural centre and affordable housing. Administration was directed to come back with some options in four months.
Among the issues to be worked out is what to do about the land, which the city acquired from the province on the condition that the lands be used for affordable housing for at least 15 years. Some sort of land swap may be pursued.
Society executive director Tanya Schur was disappointed to lose the site but expressed optimism that the project will go ahead elsewhere and bring the community together.
“This is a step in the right direction and we will see things move forward now.”
Coun. Tara Veer said she was concerned about going ahead with the project in Clearview North in the face of so much divisiveness. It is better to find another location for the society’s initiative and “set them up for success.”
Veer was also uncomfortable that the city needed to change a previously approved Neighbourhood Area Structure Plan to make way for the proposal, a point of contention for a number of opposing residents.
“(Residents) need to have confidence in the planning word of the city,” said Veer.
Coun. Buck Buchanan was the lone councillor to vote in favour. He was skeptical of some residents’ fears that the project would hurt property values or increase neighbourhood crime rates.
Clearview North resident Beverly McGinn, who helped organize a petition against the project, was buoyed by the outcome.
“We’re just very happy. It’s a big process, and I’m glad it’s over.”
The biggest issue for many residents was the lack of information from the city about what was intended for the area, she said.
Coun. Cindy Jefferies was absent from Monday’s meeting.
pcowley@www.reddeeradvocate.com