By Ashley Wiebe/Jessie Weisner

Council votes in favour to rezone Primrose site despite community reaction

Dec 17, 2018 | 11:40 PM

MEDICINE HAT, AB — Concerned residents packed the council chamber Monday night.

Many were waiting to hear what council had to say, following a public hearing around a piece of land at the corner of Primrose Drive SE and College Drive.

City council passed the first reading to rezone 352 Primrose Drive SE to medium density residential in November. The rezoning would allow suitable developers to be build an apartment building or a condo complex.

“If we choose tonight to not go down this path and not support this change,” says Councillor Jamie McIntosh. “We’re basically saying no to any other proposal that comes forward.”

Young minds, big ideas: Elementary students learn about urban planning with 'Box City'

13h ago

HERE'S WHAT TO KNOW

Summer pool hours extended and discounts applied as Big Marble Go Centre upgrades start

Apr 18, 2024

Medicine Hat company drawing in clients with witty signage

Apr 16, 2024

Despite overwhelming opposition from those who attended Monday’s city council meeting, council decided to rezone the space.

Residents have been fighting this decision for months, and they didn’t back down when given the chance to voice their concerns.

“This action would denigrate the neighbourhood and do nothing to improve the aesthetics of the premium housing development in the city,” says one Connaught Resident. “This is totally preposterous.”

“The only fair course for this,” says another Connaught resident. “Is for council to vote ‘NO’ to medium density.”

Mayor Ted Clugston voted against the rezoning, and he made a last-stitch plea to council.

“You really really need to take a look at this crowd and what they want,” says Mayor Ted Clugston. “There are actually a bunch of other infill lots that are for sale and we even have offers on them, there won’t be a single person in this gallery on any of those lots.”

However, council still voted six to three to rezone the land from open space to medium residential.

Mayor Ted Clugston, Councillor Dumanowski and Councillor Friesen voted against, while Councillors Darren Hirsch, Jamie McIntosh,Kris Samraj, Phil Turnbull, Jim Turner and Brian Varga voted in favour.

“I’m sure a year or two down the road, this will be done and it will all be passed and you won’t even know that it happened,” said Turner.

The land is up for sale for roughly $350,000, and now that it’s rezoned, there’s several buyers on the table.

However, only one potential buyer has outlined its plan to council, NewRock Developments.

The company would aim for senior bungalows, similar to the Southlands Gate Development. It would likely consist of no more than 25 units.

“We work with the landowner to make changes that aesthetically fit the development,” says a representative from NewRock Developments.

Mayor Ted Clugston says although the rezoning has passed, the city still has control over what’s built.

“Council is very concerned about what may go on that property now, and as the land owner, we can put some conditions on the sale of the property, so whoever we sell it to we can say ‘we don’t want an apartment there’” he said. “Council really doesn’t want to see something super high-density, they’d rather see something similar to what NewRock proposed.”

“There will be conditions probably on landscaping, trees, what it looks like from the front, I mean it could go as far as stucco, not siding.”

However, Connaught residents are still concerned.

“They just took the first step in writing off one of the most beautiful green spaces in the city,” says Russ Barnes, a Connaught resident.