Application denied for senior-based apartment complex

Meadow Lake City Council denied an application for rezong to allow for a proposed four-story 24-unit seniors-based apartment building development on LaRocque Drive.

Chambers were packed last night as a public hearing for a zoning amendment bylaw took place. As part of the hearing, several members of the community both for and against the development were given an opportunity to speak and present for five minutes each about their thoughts on the matter.

A number of residents of the neighbouring streets, such as Gibson Crescent, King Street, and Bridger Drive cited a number of concerns including higher traffic flow, an increase in people parking on the street, and decreased property value of their own lots as many newer residents of the area chose to buy because of the residential nature of the area, and feel an apartment building would eventually have a negative influence on their values.

“In each household, there’s usually two vehicles, and there’s no real parking that could potentially park on the streets,” said Dr. Gavin van de Venter. “As it is, the traffic that moves through there is congested. This speaks to the bigger issue of safety.”

Another resident who lives in the area, Amanda Gutek, brought up the fact that there was no actual assurance that the building would be for residence 55 years of age and older.

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“When all the sudden there’s an area where we were expecting one house to be able to look into our yard, and now all the sudden, there’s the potential for 24, that’s a huge breach of privacy,” she said. “We don’t know necessarily who could be in those, looking into my yard, looking into my house, looking at my children.”

The proposed amendment would have seen the zoning on four lots on the drive change from R2 Low Density Residential to R3 High Density Residential, which would have allowed the age 55 and up building to be developed. 

The $8 million project would have included a parking garage underneath the building with one parking stall per apartment. The down payment for the apartments would have been $65,000, and proposed rent would have been around $2000 per month. Of the areas in the city that could accommodate a development of this size, this area was the only one most readily available for discretionary use. Another proposed area close by would need sewer and water upgrades that could take years.

Terry and Tammy Villeneuve, the developers of the project, said at the meeting they started the project as a much-needed housing solution for seniors who would not qualify for seniors’ social housing. Through their research and canvassing throughout the community, they found that a number of seniors would like this option as it would allow them to live in a community. The couple toured the province and visited seven other complexes similar to the one they want to build.

“It was heartwarming to see how happy these people were and how quick those residents were to encourage us to spearhead a complex in Meadow Lake,” said Tammy. “The Battleford complex is so popular there is a waiting list of 25 seniors wanting to move in. No building we visited had any young renters, these complexes are marketed to a 55-plus demographic. Parking would be addressed in a development permit. The seniors in our community deserve to live in desirable location just as much as everyone else in Meadow Lake. These are the people who have built our community worked with us and for us to make it a vibrant and positive home for us and our children.”

Mary Betker has lived in the community since 1970, and said she would welcome the opportunity to move into a seniors complex, as she currently pays someone to do the yard work at her home.

“I would just as soon pay rent and have someone else do it,” she said.

The Villeneuves also gathered over 500 signatures from community members who would be in support of the project, some even from the nearby areas.

The hearing and eventual council vote took up over two hours of the regular meeting. Councillors and Mayor Gary Vidal were given the opportunity to speak and ask questions as well of those who spoke. 

Coun. Curtis Paylor cited when a previous request was denied in 2013.

“Council’s vision at the time was that it was discussed then that this area had reached its capacity for multi-unit,” he said.

Coun. Kim Chiverton, who eventually was the only one to oppose the rescinding of the rezoning request, said while he appreciates that residents of the area are concerned citizens, the lots will be developed even if they are single-family dwellings.

“One of the concerns for me is that there are 14 or so lots there, you’re going to eventually fill up,” he said. “You are living in a city, and you don’t know who is going to be living in any of those houses for that matter.”

Mayor Gary Vidal in addressing the crowd, said he appreciated the presentations on both sides of issue.

“This has been a struggle, when people want to invest money in our community, I want to help that,” he said. “As much as I would hate to say no to this because I think there’s so much positive merit to it, the tipping scale is the expectation that was created for the folks in that area. My decision came from listening to my peers at the council table.”

Coun. Conrad Read made the motion to rescind the application, Coun. Paylor seconded it. Six of seven voted in favour, while one opposed, so the motion was carried.

Following the meeting, meadowlakeNOW reached out to Terry and Tammy Villeneuve for further comment on their thoughts about council’s decision, however, they declined.

kathy.gallant@jpbg.ca  

On Twitter @ReporterKath