2024
Information on Letter Campaign
PAST DEVELOPMENTS
2024
INFORMATION FOR BYLAWS PUBLIC HEARING
On May 13, the City passed new Land Use Bylaws that include significant changes to the Public Service (PS) zone even though PS will not have any public consultation until late 2024 or 2025.
Now, the discretionary use “Assisted Living” (defined as full-time nursing care e.g. Parkvale Lodge) is replaced with “Supportive Living Accommodation” (which encompasses (a.) full-time care and (b.) independent living defined as “where the operator provides or arranges for on the Site services to assist residents to live independently.” The examples provided by planning staff were services such as hairdressers or massage therapists coming to the building.This shift now allows Independent Living Apartment complexes as a use on PS Land.
The WCA requested and Council unanimously agreed to a Public Hearing where the unreviewed change to the PS Zone may be amended so that on the lot between Gateway School and the Red Deer River the Supportive Living use is restricted to Assisted Living (nursing care) only. NOTE: the other PS uses of recreation, sport, schools, churches etc are also still available to this lot.
WHAT YOU CAN DO:
Write a letter to Council. Letters are highly impactful. It can be as simple as stating you oppose/support the changes to PS, but will have more impact if you add one or two of your own reasons. Send it to david.girardin@reddeer.ca by noon on Wednesday, May 22, 2024. Please cc us at secretary@waskasoo.info
Attend the Public Hearing at 5:00 pm at City Hall on May 27th – PLEASE WEAR RED to show you are with the WCA. Again the number of people in attendance has impact.
Speak at the Public Hearing if you are able.
MORE INFORMATION PROVIDED BELOW:
1. Read the WCA's position on the changes that have been made to the PS Land Use and why they have not been fully reviewed
2. Read a Board member's private letter to Legislative Services outlining numerous errors in and changes to the PS Zone. It was this letter that alerted the City that schools were no longer a use on PS land and that gambling establishments were.
3. Watch Council deliberate the amendment to the new bylaws.
4. Read the proposed bylaw amendment/land use exception for 4240 59 St
OTHER RELEVANT LINKS
2023
PUBLIC HEARING FOR EAST LINCOLN PROPERTIES' PROPOSED AMENDMENTS TO THE WASKASOO AREA REDEVELOPMENT PLAN AND CITY OF RED DEER ZONING/LAND USE BYLAWS
LINKS TO THE PROPOSAL, CITY REPORTS, RESPONSE LETTERS & MORE ARE BELOW
Background
In 2020, East Lincoln Properties purchased 4240 59 St, the large 4 acre lot located between the Red Deer River and Gateway School. The lot has been zoned Public Service and has been part of Red Deer's Open Space Major System since the earliest city bylaws were created in 1978. It has been a key part of the Waskasoo Area Redevelopment Plan and its Environmental Character Statement since 2016.
East Lincoln Properties wants to build two apartment buildings on the land, a use that counters both the land use zoning and the Waskasoo Area Redevelopment Plan (ARP). Therefore, in 2022, they applied to the City of Red Deer to rezone the property from PS to R3 multifamily high density and to amend the ARP and character statement.
The City of Red Deer sent out two calls to Waskasoo residents and landowners for responses to the development. They received 110 letters against it and 0 for it. Responses were also submitted by:
The Gaetz Lakes Sanctuary Committee
Waskasoo Environmental Education Society
Red Deer River Naturalists
Red Deer River Watershed Alliance
Red Deer Public School Board
Camille School
Local Biologists and
Waskasoo Community Association
On April 3, the proposal to amend the bylaws went before Council. It was supported by City Administration and Council passed First Reading. It is now scheduled for a Public Hearing.
For the hearing, Council received an additional 67 opposing letters and 1 letter in support of the amendments. See Link to Public Hearing Letters.
East Lincoln Properties also submitted a second package (pg 81)
Stantec supplied a comparison of trip generation rates between assisted living and seniors adult housing (pg. 76) and
Matrix Solutions Inc supplied reports on vegetation and wildlife (pg 201)
Any citizen who believes themselves to be impacted can attend the Public Hearing. If you are inclined to do so, you may also speak to Council:
City Hall
May 3, 5:00 pm
You will also be able to speak to Council. (5 minute time limit)
To show solidarity with Waskasoo, wear RED!
LINKS FOR FURTHER INFORMATION
Video of First Reading discussion and resolution begins at approximately 2 hours and 8 minutes.
Note: Numerous letters are missing from the agenda packet supplied to Council.