BOWDEN — A date has been set for the Bowden Municipal Planning Commission (MPC) to hear a revised plan for a controversial apartment building in Bowden.
An MPC meeting to discuss the plan will be held March 7 at 7 p.m. in the Bowden Event Centre (formerly known as the Friendship Centre).
The development, proposed by landowner/applicants Leonard and Fern Kobewka and developer Kyle McCowan calls for a two-storey, 26-unit apartment building to be built on four lots in town near Highway 2A. All units would be one-bedroom units. Access would be gained by 19th Street.
The original application had asked that the required number of parking stalls be cut to 30 from 39, a 23 per cent relaxation of the requirement in the town’s land use bylaw.
On Jan. 15, the application came before the town’s Municipal Planning Commission (MPC) before about 45 people in the Bowden Event Centre.
The MPC (members of town council, except Coun. Deb Coombes who was absent) voted 5-1 to deny that application due to the relaxation request.
Red Deer County development officer Julie Hardes told the Albertan that the basic difference between the new application and the previous one is that five parking stalls were added at the rear of the building to meet the requirements of the land use bylaw.
Virtually everyone who spoke during the Jan. 15 MPC meeting opposed the development proposal for reasons including fear of increased crime, transients, and that it would create parking issues.
The fact that the development would occur in the central commercial district was also cited as a concern. Some speakers said the town needs more commercial businesses.
The fact that pets would be allowed was a concern of at least one speaker.
