(Tiffany Goodwein/CHATNewsToday)

By Tiffany Goodwein

Council approves infill lot rezoning despite opposition from neighbors

Jun 8, 2021 | 1:40 AM

MEDICINE HAT, AB- A rezoning application that could allow for the construction of a four-plex on land that used to house a single-family home, received the green light from council.

The lot is located at 29 Fifth St. SE, an area identified as one of the city’s intensification corridors.

Prior to the public hearing, two letters of opposition were submitted from neighbours concerned about parking and the size of the lot, which does not meet the minimum requirements of the land use bylaw.

One of the neighbours who attended the public hearing via teleconference was Darlene Neigum.

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“I cannot see how you can approve this on a 48.75 ft lot, that’s my honest opinion,” she said, citing single-family homes built on much larger lots in the neighbourhood.

Currently, under the land use bylaw, medium-density properties, such as four-plexes, have a minimum width of 19 metres and a minimum site area of 720 square metres.

The lot width of the property on Fifth Street SE is 15 metres and the area is 607 square metres, much lower than the required minimum.

Variances would be required, prior to the issuing of the development permit.

According to Neigum, and other neighbours in the area, parking along the street is at a minimum and they worry a four-plex could add to the already congested road, given many families have two vehicles.

The applicant, Craig Elder, of Gas City Ventures said their aim is to create affordable housing, geared towards first-time buyers or those looking to retire. The units will likely be two bedrooms, according to Elder, and parking will be addressed, with four stalls being provided.

But neighbour Kara Crawford argued the precedent being set by the City, is “a very slippery slope,”

She also questioned a recent council decision that saw a medium-density lot on Fourth Street SE rezoned to low density.

“That lot was bigger in size, why was that lot rezoned to low-density if the intent is to increase density in the area,” she asked.

Coun. Phil Turnbull later explained that the rezoning of that property was agreed to due to the land sitting vacant for a long time.

Ultimately, in the end, council voted unanimously in support of the rezoning.

Prior to the vote, Coun. Kris Samraj suggested looking at different ways of doing the rezoning applications.

“I think they are so subjective about how to make these judgment calls, that it can go either way, and I don’t think it gives much predictability or consistency for the neighbours or the developers which I think causes a lot of angst,” he said.

After the council meeting, Mayor Ted Clugston, said the city’s planning department has been looking at new zoning requirements that will help streamline the process with more definite standards, to reduce the conflicts and frustrations.

“It’s one of the most dreaded parts of this job frankly, pitting neighbour against neighbour, or developer against neighbour, and it is not fun for city council, to be in, myself included, and I would really prefer to not have to deal with as many of these because you can see how emotional it is,” he said.