Council Says No To Hearing Controversial Bylaw Amendment Due To Previous Vote

By Robert Thomas

A recommendation byAdministration to proceed “early” with third reading of a controversial zoning bylaw amendment has been denied.

At their regular Monday afternoon meeting Council voted unanimously to not include an amendment to the Zoning Bylaw on the agenda because they had voted at their August 14th meeting to table the vote until their September 11th meeting.

The motion which was tabled to allow for further consultation between residents of the 400 Block of Stadacona Street East and the developer - Evco Developments from Regina.

Evco is proposing to build a five-plex housing unit at 476 Stadacona Street East.

“This one bylaw was tabled until September 11th and then we erroneously put it on the agenda for this evening so we are simply asking Council to remove it from the agenda this evening,” Mayor Clive Tolley said.

“We will deal with it on September 11,” Mayor Tolley said in requesting the bylaw amendment be removed from the August 28th meeting agenda.

The move passed unanimously.

Residents told MJ Independent this past weekend they did not hear about the proposed date change moving the vote to today - Monday - until this past Friday, or for some, until this past Saturday. A move which surprised them.

The vacant property at 476 Stadacona Street East where EVCO Developments proposes to build a five-plex housing unit if they can get the necessary zoning - MJ Independent file photo

Residents are concerned about what they say as a major negative impact on their block.

Residents said they have yet to see the plans of the proposed development and the adjournment would allow that and other neighbourhood questions to be answered Council reasoned when they discussed tabling the zoning bylaw amendment on August 14th.

Evco for their part say they have answered all the residents’ concerns and would not be taking part in any further consultation. The move by developer is in accordance with the zoning bylaw as well as regulations regarding development.

Therefore Administration had recommended Council take the Third Reading vote to see if the bylaw amendment would pass.

The developer has requested the zoning bylaw be amended to change the property’s zoning from R1 (single family dwelling) to R2 (multi family dwelling) in order to build the proposed five-plex.

Previously the property had a single family home on it - something the residents said they would like the property to be developed as. At the present time the property is a vacant lot.

Third Reading of the bylaw amendment is expected to be on Council’s September 11th agenda.

If the vote proceeds at that time Council will decide whether or not to vote in favour of the proposed zoning bylaw amendments.

The developer has stated not receiving the requested zoning bylaw amendments would have a negative impact on the proposed development taking place.