BONNYVILLE – The Town of Bonnyville gave first reading to a Land Use Bylaw amendment that would rezone certain properties from R2 - Single Family Small Lot Residential to R3 - Medium Density Residential. The amendment aims to facilitate the construction of semi-detached residential dwellings in a specific area.
The properties are owned by Envision Ventures Inc. and are located in the 3600 block of 53rd Ave in Bonnyville.
Joseph Kopala, director of planning with the Town of Bonnyville, presented the bylaw amendment to council during the July 8 council meeting.
“We have sent out adjacent landowner notifications. We received one letter so far . . . Their concerns were around higher density on these lots. The units they plan to build are going to be one single family dwelling per lot, but [the dwellings are] meeting on the property line. So, they’re side-by-side, semi-detached, and the property line is the divider of the homes. We're not increasing the density of any dwellings in that area,” explained Kopala.
Coun. Phil Kushnir asked for more information on the reasoning behind wanting the bylaw amended, and Kopala explained that the houses Envision Ventures Inc. wants to build are single-level houses with no basements, so they want to maximize the amount of square footage they can achieve on the lots without having any setbacks.
“[B]y going to an R3 zone where they can do the semi-detached with the party wall on the property line, they don't lose that five feet on that one side of the lot,” said Kopala.
Coun. Neil Langridge asked if the bylaw amendment opened it up for the entire area to be rezoned and confirmed with administration that the lots are serviced by a back alley.
“We haven't seen new developments in our area for a long time, but we have seen, for example, in Beau Vista . . . very nice single-family dwellings, and then a block over we have fourplexes loaded in the street with no back alley. So, I just want to make sure going forward that we don't make some of those mistakes that some of the previous developers have done,” said Langridge.
Town of Bonnyville CAO Quinton Wintfley explained that further requests would have to be made on a case-by-case basis.
“If there were any additional requirements to change the Land Use Bylaw or the amendments in the area structure plan as well, those would still be brought forward to council on a case-by-case situation, same as what's happening tonight with this. So, it would be one of those conversations that would still be had at this table in the future if there were plans or potential for additional changes to that area,” said Wintfley.
Mayor Elisa Brosseau opposed the bylaw amendment, saying she would like to see the Town stick to the current zoning.
“I think we have an area development plan that clearly lays out our long-term vision. In my perspective, if we're going to start rezoning and contravening what we've already approved, it's not something that I would like to see us do. I know we have these incentives, and we want to see new houses, but at the same time I think there's a vision set out, and for me I'd like to stick to that,” said Brosseau.
Coun. Kayla Blanchette inquired about the parking situation, and if it would remain as two parking stalls per unit, Kopala confirmed it would. Additionally, Deputy Mayor David Sharun confirmed with administration that the dwellings had front garages that would be set back enough from the road that even large vehicles would not obstruct the road.
Coun. Brian McEvoy clarified with administration that the subdivision did not have any architectural controls, which Kopala confirmed he was not aware of any.
Following approval of the first reading, a public hearing will now be held on Aug. 26 at 6 p.m. in council chambers at the Town office.
