(rdnewsNOW file photo)

By Alessia Proietti

Tabled for six months

Timber Ridge neighborhood changes paused for community conversation

Mar 29, 2022 | 12:14 PM

Adjusting the Timber Ridge Neighborhood Area Structure Plan (NASP) is not happening just yet, city council decided on Monday.

A public hearing was held at the meeting where some residents voiced opposition to the moving of a green space, originally designed to be in front of their properties. Council tabled the Land Use Bylaw amendment for up to six months, directing administration to meet with the developer and community stakeholders to discuss other options for the NASP.

On Feb. 28, council gave first reading to the proposed amendments, predominantly in the southwest portion of the area, which included the removal of 65 Medium Density (R2 Residential) lots in replacement for 80 Small lots (R1G Residential).

As a result of the changes, certain roads and intersections would be relocated, and a green space would be shifted slightly eastward, where 10 properties initially in front of the green space would now be in front of housing. The reserved sites for a Place of Worship and Temporary Care facility would also be removed as they have not been purchased yet. A total of 73 less dwellings would be built overall in the area.

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The current NASP (left) alongside the proposed NASP (right). The purple marks the place of worship and temporary care facility. The green space is shifted eastward in the new NASP. (Red Deer city council March 28 agenda packet)

David Girardin, Major Projects Planner for The City, noted that amendments were common especially for plans that have been years in development.

The Timber Ridge NASP was originally approved in 2012 and has been partially developed over the past 10 years.

“Growth in Red Deer, especially in the early-2000s to mid-2000s, was growing gangbusters and we couldn’t approve plans fast enough. The thought process around a lot of our past planning was that our plans are being developed so quick and our plans now, moving forward when we have a bit of slower growth, is that we likely need to have more flexibility,” he said.

Girardin also stated that developers were selling more small lots compared to medium sized. From the front view of the properties, he said most would not notice a large difference regarding size.

For the public hearing, 232 residents received letters and seven responded by the end opposing the amendment. The biggest concern was the moving of the green space.

Home owner since 2015, Abhay Sonigara, wrote a letter and spoke at the hearing regarding the green space, stating it was one of the reasons he purchased the home as a young couple with kids.

“Buying a house is kind of an emotional thing. It’s another small feat, especially for me, I’m a first generation immigrant. Buying a house for me was a very big deal,” he said.

He also questioned amendments being common for developing neighborhoods.

“Let’s say in the future one of my friends is very excited about a property and he says to me ‘this particular thing is going to be across the street’, what should I say? Don’t be excited about that because you never know it’s going to come? It could be axed at any given point of time,” he asked.

Gordon Lau, consultant for the applicants with Stantec Consulting, was also the original planner and designer for the NASP. Explaining decisions to amend are not taken lightly, he says, noting the developers have made amendments that also improve the area’s organization for efficiency.

“A lot of these things are small little ripple effects. It’s not about just changing the land use and that everything works out fine. It’s that a bunch of little things happen together and because of that we have to redesign to accommodate for the lots,” said Lau.

City councillors asked Lau if there was a way to make amendments without moving the green space. Lau responded that it may be possible.

“I think there’s space and room for conversations. We heard from the developer this evening. There’s opportunity perhaps to have those conversations,” said Councillor Dianne Wyntjes.