(rdnewsNOW file photo)

By Alessia Proietti

briefs: April 29

Red Deer city council discuss Central Alberta Humane Society loan, Vehicle for Hire and Zoning Bylaws

Apr 29, 2024 | 8:35 PM

Red Deer city council held their regular meeting on Monday, discussing the Central Alberta Humane Society’s loan deferral, amendments to the Vehicle for Hire Bylaw, and the new Zoning Bylaw.

The following are council briefs for April 29:

CENTRAL ALBERTA HUMANE SOCIETY LOAN

Council approved second and third reading to amending the bylaw for the Central Alberta Humane Society loan.

This February, council received a request by the Society to defer their loan payments for one year. Council passed a loan bylaw in 2007 for $1 million towards a new facility for the organization to which over 50 per cent of it is paid.

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READ: Central Alberta Humane Society facing financial struggles; defers loan payments for one year

The Society said they are facing financial difficulty, particularly following the pandemic, for various reasons such as increases in abandoned pets and decreases in donations and adoptions.

VEHICLE FOR HIRE BYLAW

Council postponed their consideration of second and third reading of amendments to the Vehicle for Hire Bylaw until their May 27 meeting.

Protesters on both sides gathered once again on Monday outside City Hall to voice their concerns of the amendments which include eliminating the cap on Taxi Plates, among other changes.

Protesters outside City Hall on Monday regarding the Vehicle for Hire bylaw amendments. (rdnewsNOW/Alessia Proietti)

READ: Taxi drivers protest proposed Vehicle for Hire bylaw changes in Red Deer

Administration will be bringing back information on gradually phasing out the taxi plate cap instead, including restricting access to new plates to brokers currently holding no more than a fixed percentage of available plates.

ZONING BYLAW

Council closed the Public Hearing that began on April 15 and postponed consideration of second and third reading of the Zoning Bylaw.

READ: Red Deer residents concerned with increased building heights in new Zoning Bylaw

Administration will be bringing back additional information to the next council meeting on May 13 on proposed amendments regarding: height, percentage of suites in a neighbourhood, removal of grading diagram, increase allowable variances for porches, decks and ramp, removal of side yard setbacks on corner lots, allow commercial uses in high density residential, reduce duplex side yards to 1.2m, reduce residential narrow zone frontage, reduce zero lot line development site areas, and maintain current cannabis retail sale setbacks.

Another public hearing will be triggered.

Details on the project can be found on the City’s website.

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