Eastview park space on 3733 45 Street, corner of 45 Street and 38 Avenue. (rdnewsNOW/Alessia Proietti)

By Alessia Proietti

Public hearing scheduled

City wants to rezone Eastview parcel from park to residential; resident wants berry labyrinth

Oct 31, 2023 | 9:16 AM

The City of Red Deer is planning to rezone an Eastview plot of land from parks to residential, but one nearby resident wants it to be a berry labyrinth.

At their meeting on Monday, city council gave first reading to an internal request to rezone 3733 45 St., corner of 45 Street and 38 Avenue, from P1 Parks and Recreation to R2 Residential (Medium Density), with the intention to sell the land for multi-family residential development like townhouses or apartments.

The City says proceeds gained through the sale would be used for park, recreation, school site, or buffering purposes, as required by the Municipal Government Act (MGA).

The parcel is currently City owned as municipal reserve. The MGA requires each neighborhood to have 10 per cent of land as municipal reserve. With the sale of the land, the City claims they would still have 11.3 per cent of land under the designation.

The site is currently vacant, grassed open space, providing passive recreation to neighbouring residents. The zoning surrounding the property is R1A – Residential (Semi-Detached), mainly single family homes with a few multi-plexes. Nearby park sites include the Eastview Middle School and the Joseph Welsh School.

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Star showing the parcel of land in the Eastview neighbourhood. (Red Deer city council October 30 agenda p. 57)

The park site was originally subdivided in 1954 and at one point even contained a playground. It was removed in 1992 due to non-compliance with new standards and never replaced as there were other parks being built in the area. Inquiries have been made to develop the land for residential use; however, denied to keep the parcel as passive park space. Another inquiry was received this year.

The City points out that there are a range of parks and open spaces within roughly 800 metres of the existing Eastview park.

Details of the proposed rezoning were distributed to 64 landowners within 100m of the site with administration receiving seven responses and two phone calls. An additional letter was received from a landowner living beyond the boundary.

Concerns raised included parking, crime, property values, and the loss of the park space.

One nearby resident, Heather Morigeau, an Indigenous landscaper and former Green Party of Alberta candidate for Red Deer-North, proposed a berry labyrinth as an alternative use for the space.

She says not only would the labyrinth provide berries, edible flowers and herbs to residents, but is would also be a meditative waking path, something she used during her addictions recovery journey.

Berry Labyrinth design by Heather Morigeau. (Red Deer city council October 30 agenda p. 66)

In May 2023, council passed a resolution to increasing affordable housing by considering using surplus City land, fast-tracking development permits, and prioritizing zoning and permitting processes.

A future landowner would have to apply for a development permit for the multi-family residential development which would consider matters like building height, setbacks, landscaping, on-site parking, and traffic.

A Public Hearing has been for December 4.

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