Gaetz Lake Sanctuary: wildlife use the green space in the Waskasoo neighbourhood and along the river to travel in and out of the sanctuary, according to the Red Deer River Naturalists. (City of Red Deer)

By Ashley Lavallee-Koenig

MORE ENGAGEMENT IN SPRING

Proposed zoning bylaw updates to parks and public service await second round of engagement

Jan 10, 2025 | 1:21 PM

Pre-engagement has closed for the beginning of phase two of updating Red Deer’s Zoning Bylaw, a step that proposes changes to public service, parks and recreation and other zones within the city.

Residents were able to submit their thoughts on the proposed changes until Jan. 6, and they will inform adjustments made before the next engagement phase expected in the spring.

Both on social media and on the city’s comment form, many residents expressed concern about some of the changes proposed to the public service and parks and recreation zones in particular.

Formerly called P-1, parks and recreation zones will now be denoted by PR. Other potential changes include new discretionary uses like alternative or renewable energy facilities, limited to wind turbines; government services; restaurants; and specialty food services.

New proposed permitted uses include indoor recreation facilities, outdoor recreation facilities, and public assembly structures.

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Additionally, these structures would have zero-metre minimum front and side yard setbacks and only a three-metre minimum for rear yards. Currently, a 15 metre setback is required on the front, back, and sides of P-1 zone developments.

Brenda Garrett, president of the Waskasoo Community Association, explained that the setback requirements and permitted uses bring her the most concern.

“It’s not that a lot of these builds are bad. The Waskasoo Community Association isn’t necessarily anti-development, but we do believe in full consultation, so what we would like to see is that most of this is shifted from permitted to discretionary,” she said.

Developments falling under permitted use guidelines are approved as-of-right, foregoing public consultation or city council input. Discretionary uses, however, require city council approval and public input before moving forward.

Under the Public Service zone, supportive living facilities have been proposed to become a permitted use, along with cultural facilities, day cares, and professional offices.

Garrett expressed particular concern about these changes and estimated that 60 per cent of the Waskasoo neighbourhood’s border is public service land.

“To think about that being developed with all these permitted uses and not having a say in how this changes our neighbourhood is upsetting to us,” she said. “We would just really like to see that discretionary, that we can take part in the discussions on what fits and what doesn’t fit.”

The supportive living facility is a specific point of contention for the neighbourhood, as many residents spoke out against such a development in 2023. That year, East Lincoln Properties applied to have a lot at 4240 59 Street rezoned to accommodate a supportive living development and roughly 75 landowners in the neighbourhood submitted letters of opposition, citing traffic, environmental, and character concerns.

One letter, sent to the city’s senior planner by Ken Lehman, chair of the Gaetz Lakes Sanctuary Committee, in 2022, outlined a loss of permeable surfaces, threat to riverbank stability, barriers to wildlife, and light pollution as just some of the potential environmental impacts of the development.

Later, 120 people showed up to a public hearing on the matter, leading to a unanimous defeat of the proposal by city council.

Read more:

• Waskasoo residents voice opposition to multi-storey seniors living accommodation in area
• Red Deer city council votes against rezoning application in Waskasoo area after public hearing

Garrett said that when the first phase of the Zoning Bylaw passed in 2024, this type of facility became a discretionary use; now, in phase two, it’s been proposed as a permitted use, which, if passed, would essentially undermine council and the community’s 2023 decision.

Christi Fidek, City of Red Deer senior planner, said this pre-engagement phase is merely intended to gauge and explore what residents are interested in.

“Because this one part of phase two is now complete, we’re going to start reviewing and considering the input and then the feedback will inform future changes and recommendations,” she explained.

That means residents can most likely expect to see some of these concerns addressed when the updated proposal returns for formal public engagement, which should occur in the spring after other zones get their own pre-engagement phase.

She added that proposed changes maintain the original intent of the zones, while exploring new development opportunities.

“We know citizens love their park spaces, we hear that again and again and again, and we’re not interested in changing that; we want to make sure those spaces are protected.” Fidek said. “If you go through the different zones, you will see different uses that are being explored for what we don’t currently have, and that’s just to gauge [interest].”

After the next engagement phase occurs in the spring, a public hearing and the item’s appearance before council is expected later in the year.