Council rejects medium density proposal

Town council rejected a pair of proposed bylaws that, in concert, would have made a six-plex development possible in the heart of East Olds.

One was an amendment to change the East Olds Redevelopment Plan to allow R3 Medium Residential Zoning on two empty lots. The second was a land use bylaw amendment. Both were defeated unanimously.

If passed, the developer would have sought a development permit to build the multi-plex.

Coun. Harvey Walsh was the first to voice opposition to that, saying the town had already gone through a lengthy public engagement process before the East Olds Area Redevelopment Plan was adopted in 2014.

During that time, town officials learned residents wanted to keep the interior of East Olds as R2 General Residential, keeping higher-density developments on the outer fringes where they already existed.

"That was almost a year's process where they sat down and talked about the vision of the community, how they see it, wanted to develop. They had numerous public engagement sessions," Walsh said.

"We passed this about two years ago. We either support what they suggested to us or we don't. I guess we've got to adhere to that plan."

The two lots are located at 4812 and 4814 51st Street.

Walsh said that if spot zoning to R3 were allowed, there's no way to stop it from spreading, as neighbours would rezone their properties and sell them.

"And then it starts expanding and you don't have a general residential community. You just have a (medium) density community," he said.