The site of the now former Bellini's and Longriders bars at the now-named Red Deer Resort & Casino is where O'Chiese Hospitality Inc., the hotel's owners, wanted to build a new event centre. (rdnewsNOW/Alessia Proietti)

By Josh Hall (Twitter: @Vancan19)

comes amid casino relocation efforts

Red Deer MPC rejects application to put event centre where to-be-demolished bars are

Mar 30, 2023 | 10:32 AM

Despite City administration recommending approval, Red Deer’s Municipal Planning Commission (MPC) has shot down a plan for a new event centre to be built in the south end.

The 3,028 square metre building was proposed to be built at the Red Deer Resort & Casino (3310 50 Avenue), in the current spot of the to-be-demolished Longriders and Bellinis establishments.

MPC voted 5-2 against the application on March 22 — Mayor Ken Johnston and Councillor Kraymer Barnstable were in favour, while Councillor Lawrence Lee, Linda Cullen-Saik, Jack Engel, Tony Lindhout and Richard McDonnell voted against.

The proposal would see parking stalls at the site be reduced from 773 to 551, something those in opposition were not keen on.

However, in an MPC report, administration notes that complementary and overlapping uses actually support a reduction in onsite parking.

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“There are assumptions that can be made that many of the people who’d be attending the event centre would likely be staying at the hotel or using the casino also. There’d be overlap,” says Erin Stuart, General Manager, Development Services, City of Red Deer.

“The application was denied, however, based on the members feeling as though there wasn’t sufficient parking provided onsite to accomodate the uses. They also felt it would impact adjacent properties and traffic flow.”

The administrative report also noted there have been no parking-related complaints from this site despite a decades-old existing parking variance.

Admin advised further that an event centre meets the intent of the C4 district; as well, the requested variance to the front yard setback would have no negative impacts, and they supported the applicant’s proposal to do enhanced landscaping on the adjacent City-owned boulevards.

Separate from this proposal, but germane to the discussion, are plans by the owner, O’Chiese Hospitality Inc. (OCI), to build a parkade south and across the street from the hotel, which would make up for the drop in spaces on the hotel property.

The City sent out 91 notification letters to landowners within 100 metres of the proposed event centre site, and zero responses were received.

This denial does not affect OCI’s previously approved permits to relocate the Jackpot Casino from downtown to the site’s southwest portion.

Formally the applicant on behalf of OCI was Aggregate Design Studios, which is based in Blackfalds and is a part of Eagle Builders.

Aggregate Design and O’Chiese Hospitality did not return our repeated requests for comment.

“City administration certainly supports the work being done by the property owner there to enhance and upgrade the already existing facilities,” adds Stuart. “It’s really exciting to have this opportunity to provide a facility that will be recognized regionally as a place people will want to visit.”

Owner and applicant have 21 days (by 4:30 p.m. on April 12) to appeal the MPC decision, in which case it would go to the Subdivision and Development Appeal Board. They could also submit a revised proposal, or wait six months days and submit the same one.