Hearing on low-density residential consolidation postponed

By Sean Feagan, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

A public hearing on a proposed bylaw to consolidate low-density residential districts in Strathmore was postponed following a last-minute letter of opposition by a former member of town staff.

The proposed bylaw would consolidate four low-density land use districts – single detached residential, single detached residential (narrow lot), single detached residential (small lot), and low density residential – in the town’s land use bylaws into a single low-density land use district. The bylaw passed first reading by Strathmore town council during its regular meeting on July 22, and a public hearing was scheduled for Sept. 2, but was later postponed.

“Staff are proposing this bylaw because we believe that having one consolidated district with all those low density uses will allow developers to effectively react to the market changes that are occurring very regularly right now,” said Cameron Thompson, a planner with the town.

If the consolidated district is approved, developers could change the use of what they are building (e.g. single detached housing to a duplex or semi-detached housing) without having to proceed through the approvals process, which costs $2,500 per application and is not guaranteed, he said.

Councillor Bob Sobol said he was supportive of the intentions of the proposed bylaw. “I think that the end goal of this is very impressive – anything that will reduce red tape and make development easier within the confines of our rules is, I think, a good thing,” he said.

But Sobol added he was surprised that no comments from developers in support of the bylaw were provided in the proposal. 

Town staff engaged the development industry, and while they did not receive any formal letters of support, administration received verbal confirmation of support.

“We are working with developers right now on area structure plan amendments, and they’re very excited to be able to implement this bylaw,” said Thompson.

Council received one letter in opposition to the proposed bylaw, written by Werner Fischer, a former head of planning policy with the town. The letter was distributed to council the day of the meeting. Sobol requested the town’s legislative services department to respond to each point of the letter. Then the public hearing was postponed until Sept. 16, 2020.