(rdnewsNOW/Alessia Proietti)

By Josh Hall (Twitter: @Vancan19)

hearing scheduled for april 24

Red Deer hotel event centre denial to be appealed by developer

Apr 13, 2023 | 5:03 PM

Owners of the Red Deer Resort & Casino (formerly the Cambridge/Sheraton — 3310 50 Avenue) are appealing a recent decision to deny an application they made to build a new event centre.

It was March 22 when the Municipal Planning Commission voted 5-2 against a proposal from Aggregate Design Studio, on behalf of O’Chiese Hospitality Inc., to construct a 3,028 square metre building where the now former Longriders and Bellinis bars are.

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

The main issue had by the majority of the MPC was a proposed reduction in parking stalls, from 773 to 577, plus an additional parking variance which would bring the number of stalls to 551.

Post-denial, the applicant had 21 days to file an appeal, which they did on March 29.

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The appeal will be heard April 24 at a meeting of the Subdivision and Development Appeal Board. The meeting begins at 1 p.m. inside city council chambers, but the meeting’s formal agenda is yet to be released.

An appeal notice filed by Aggregate Design Studio on March 29 goes into detail about why the parties have opted to appeal.

Aggregate says, per City request, it retained Bunt & Associates (B&A), a professional transportation planning and engineering firm, to conduct a parking study. It determined the site’s multiple uses overlapped, which allows City administration to apply a section of the Land Use Bylaw supporting reduced parking.

B&A’s opinion is that the proposed parking spaces are adequate for the site’s needs.

Aggregate adds that while the MPC was against the parking variance, it did express support for the project overall, as did administration.

Among other things, they argue some parking spots along 51 Avenue — which bisects the site — should be considered in the total number of spots; further, they say the only complaints received against the property are in relation to activities at the two bars, which are approved for demolition.

They then point out the bars will be replaced by a facility that has essentially existed on the site where the new casino is going for numerous years.

And finally, they note that no opposition has been received from any of the 91 landowners notified of the proposed development.

“The overlapping uses at the site will result in varying peak times of activity at the site and fluctuating parking needs as the parking demands will increase when special events are scheduled and decrease when there are none. Parking accommodations are essential to the business’s success and are therefore of utmost importance to the Red Deer Resort & Casino,” writes Crystal Chappell, permit coordinator, Aggregate.

“It is our opinion that the community, including City administration, and the Municipal Planning Commission are in favour of an overall modernization of a world-class development such as this, including retention of an important community asset such as a new and improved events centre.”

The meeting is open to the public, with The City explaining that the board will provide an opportunity for any person who is affected by the matter under appeal to be heard. All verbal and written submissions will form part of the hearing materials and are public information.

Written submissions may be made to: appeals@reddeer.ca or sent to: SDAB Board Clerk, PO Box 5008, Red Deer, AB T4N 3T4. The deadline to submit written submissions is Thursday, April 20.