Northwest Coaldale rezoning approved

Posted on July 25, 2024 by Sunny South News

By Nikki Jamieson
Sunny South News

A rezoning approval will allow for construction on some lots in Phase 1A of the development in Northwest Coaldale.

During their regular July 15 meeting, Coaldale town council hosted a public hearing for Land Use Bylaw Amendment 895-P-06-24.

The LUB amendment aims to rezone lands within the Northwest Area Structure Plan from I/R to R1-A to accommodate phase 1 of the development of the ASP area. The lands in question are located south of 16 Avenue and directly east of 26 Street, around the location of the site for the new high school and recreation centre.

“The developer’s preference is to use this as a blanket rezoning, even though some lots created in the subdivision are smaller than the 50-foot minimum width in the LUB,” said Cam Mills, director of growth and investment for the town. “That requirement is now covered by the outline plan, which was adopted earlier this evening.”

While council will review some other rezoning applications pertaining to the ASP sometime in fall 2024, Mills said this rezoning this portion of the area would allow for the developer to begin “more immediate construction of these lots”, in line with infrastructure being put in “ideally this summer”. The rest of phase 1A would be brought forward in the coming months, including some multi-family developments in the western portion of the area.

First reading of the bylaw was performed during council’s regular June 27 meeting, in lock step with the presentation of the Outline Plan on developing the area, and the proposed rezoning is consistent with the ASP.

Coun. Bill Chapman asked for Mills to confirm if lot sizes would not be smaller than 40 feet, which Mills confirmed they would not be. Chapman was glad to hear that, saying community members expressed concern that “we have a development that won’t replicate previous developments that have small lot sizes”.

Town residents also had the opportunity to provide feedback on the rezoning at letsconnectcoaldale.ca

Following closure of the public hearing, Council unanimously passed second and third and final reading of LUB Amendment 895-P-06-24.