3937 50 Street, corner of 40 Ave. and 50 St. (rdnewsNOW/Alessia Proietti)

By Alessia Proietti

"Corner Convenience"

Empty lot in Red Deer’s Eastview neighbourhood approved for commercial use

Jul 10, 2023 | 7:58 PM

An empty lot in Red Deer’s Eastview neighbourhood can now be used for commercial purposes.

At their meeting on Monday, city council passed second and third reading following a public hearing to a Land Use Bylaw Amendment to rezone 3937 50 Street from R1A Residential (Semi-Detached Dwelling) District to a C5 Commercial (Mixed Use) District.

The property is located on the corner of 40 Avenue and 50 Street.

From 1984 – 2001, it was a service station and car wash before being demolished. The property has since remained vacant.

An application has been made to rezone the property in the red box. (Red Deer city council June 12 meeting agenda p. 92)

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READ: Empty lot in Red Deer’s Eastview neighbourhood may soon be for commercial use

Surrounding existing land uses are single family homes, duplexes and a service station across.

The site is currently zoned for duplexes as an R1A, with a site exception allowing for Motor Vehicle Service and Repair (no sales), a car wash, and a drive-in as discretionary uses.

In June 2021, the applicant applied to rezone the property to C4 Commercial (Major Arterial) District. Based on public feedback, administration suggested that the C5 Commercial (Mixed Use) District instead.

Under a C4 district, permitted uses include a commercial recreation or service facility, merchandise sales or rentals, a restaurant, service or repair of related goods and an office building. Discretionary uses include storage facilities, accessory buildings, dangerous goods occupancy, a drinking or gaming establishment, funeral home, hotel, health services, outdoor display, warehouse, communication/utility/transportation facility, and a cannabis retailer.

Under the C5 district, permitted uses include merchandise sales or rentals, restaurant, office building, day care facility, health services, and other residential options. Discretionary uses include accessory building, drinking establishment, hotel, outdoor display, communication/utility/transportation facility, commercial service or entertainment facility, parking lot, assisted living facility, place of worship or sale of fuel.

At the public hearing, the applicant, Brett Salomons, phoned in to address resident concerns about what the property will be used for.

He said he first needs to determine what district the lot will be rezoned to in order to know what he can develop.

“But I can assure you, it is going to be your typical neighbourhood corner convenience. There were some other ideas floating around at the time but that is the intent of the development of the site,” he said.

Salomons did say that he prefers the original request for a rezoning under the C4 district as, due to the lot’s location on two major roads, it meets the requirement of being a “major arterial district”.

As well, he said the C4 district is less restrictive which can benefit the small lot. For example, under the C5 district, developers must put the building on the front of the property rather than wherever they feel is best.

Administration confirmed that the applicant can reapply immediately if they insist on rezoning to a C4 district; however, they would have to undergo the entire process again of three readings and a public hearing.

Councillor Lawrence Lee voiced support for the rezoning, stating that the lot was once successful as a commercial lot and can be again.

“I am confident that that will add vibrancy to that corner – give that neighbourhood a little bit more of an amenity feel again that you can go down the street and, who knows, there could be a little coffee shop there, there could be a little business with some residents on top; we don’t know, but we have the possibility of that coming forward,” he said.