SUNDRE – A public hearing has been set for Monday, May 26 for proposed changes to Sundre's land use as well as the municipal development plan bylaws.
Chris Albert, the Town of Sundre's director of corporate service and acting CAO during the regular May 12 council meeting, introduced the items.
Amendments to the municipal development plan (MDP) are intended to include policy for transitional areas between commercial and residential districts in Sundre’s northeast.
The change proposes the inclusion of a new policy language in the commercial section of the MDP for transitional areas situated between commercial or institutional uses and adjacent residential neighbourhoods.
“Transitional areas between higher-intensity commercial or institutional uses and lower-intensity residential neighbourhoods shall support a compatible mix of land uses such as medium-density housing, small-scale retail, offices, and community services to reduce land use conflicts, enhance walkability, and contribute to vibrant, liveable communities,” reads part of the policy’s new section.
The policy further goes onto define that may include medium- to high-density residential developments such as townhouses and low-rise apartments, ground-floor retail or service commercial spaces such as cafés, boutiques, or clinics, and small-scale offices or live-work units.
The proposed changes to the land use bylaw stem from an application submitted to the planning and development department requesting a zoning redesignation of the estate residential district (R-4) lot located at the civic address of 1107, 1st Ave. NE to general residential (R-2).
“The redesignation will allow for a multiplex dwelling of four units,” said Albert.
Per background information outlined in council’s agenda package, each unit would feature two to three bedrooms and include a single garage, designed to support mid-density residential use in alignment with the municipality’s growth and affordability goals as outlined in the MDP.
The proposed development is designed to integrate with the municipality’s existing infrastructure, and all essential services – including water supply, sanitary sewer systems and stormwater management – would be connected to existing systems.
“However, it will be necessary to establish additional service connections to support the increased density of the proposed development,” reads part of the background.
Council carried back-to-back motions giving the amended bylaws first readings with a public hearing date for both set for Monday, May 26 starting at 4 p.m.
