City council approves design guidelines for development on contentious piece of land

The community even created a petition against the rezoning that had more than 500 signatures.

The city completed an environmental site assessment which didn’t identify any areas of concern.

They also conducted a geotechnical investigation, which identified an elevated groundwater table. This means a potential buyer would have to undergo dewatering measures.

However, as a result of the concern, city administration has set specific design guidelines for potential purchasers, requiring any potential development to be similar to the appearance of other buildings on the street.

The guidelines were presented to council, and cover building design, landscaping, residential interface with the streets, and ensure high quality materials are used.

According to the guidelines, buildings and doors must face onto Primrose drive, entrances must be identifiable from the street, and units must be ‘architecturally focused’.

Row town homes, duplexes and fourplexes will be encourage, while an apartment building will not be allowed.

The development will have a maximum building height of 12 metres or 39 feet, and will have a maximum of 72 residential units.

Council members were generally happy with the design requirements, voting 2-7 to approve the guidelines. Councillor Julie Friesen and Mayor Ted Clugston voted against.

Roughly 26 Connaught area residents attended the meetings, and many were unhappy with the conclusion.

“We are still mad, we’re getting madder all the time, this is not going to be accepted,” says Robin Cowan, an area resident.. “We’re going to do what we need to do for the good of the neighbourhood because obviously city council and the mayor are not looking after the interests of the residents of Connaught.”

The height allowed for the potential development was a point of controversy.

“40 feet is not compatible in that community with every house that’s built there,” says Don Bischke, area resident.

However, Mayor Clugston says council still has full control over which development is approved. He says a development at 39 feet would not sit well with council.

“That may not be looked upon very favourably by council,” says Mayor Clugston. “They will probably be looking at something that isn’t quite that tall.”

Any proposed developer also has to provide a conceptual rendering of their property, obtain a development permit, and meet City standards for transportation, parking and servicing.

The approved list price of the 3.22 acre piece of land is $1,293,600. That means each acre is $401,740.

Any buyer submissions will be brought back to City council for final approval.

Medicine Hat’s Land & Business Support has already received several inquires about purchasing the land, so strong interest from multiple buyers is expected.

One buyer outlined its development plan to council in December. NewRock Developments aimed to build senior bungalows, consisting of 25 units.

“Since the land use change occurred,” says Clugston. “There have been I’m going to say 4 or 5 buyers kicking, knocking on the door.”

For now, city administration is preparing marketing documentation and sales agreements, and will soon advertise the property for sale.

by Jessie Weisner

City council approves design guidelines for development on contentious piece of land

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