By Justin Brisbane
Justin@canmoreleader.com
The public got their chance to comment on a zoning change designed to allow affordable housing units to be built at the Palliser Lands site Tuesday night, and while the project has moved quickly, council heard two different concerns about the development.
Development planner Colleen Renne presented the bylaw, which switches over the land from Urban land use to the Palliser Perpetually Affordable Housing Residential Apartment Direct Control District.
The site will house at least 58 perpetually affordable housing units, as well as a mix of attainable and market housing units.
Land near the site was also converted from urban reserve land to public use district and environmental district. The zoning change will allow perpetually affordable housing units to be built on the site.
Renne told council that the land use change brings the zoning more in line with usage.
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A definition of perpetually affordable housing was also added to the bylaw, Renne said, who also mentioned parking standards will have to be addressed at the site.
The town received one letter in opposition to the project.
Jim Pissot, executive director of Defenders of Wildlife, voiced his concerns about the development in a letter to council. He is concerned that the plan for the Palliser Lands is being done in isolation, without considering other amenities to be included.
Pissot is concerned that more people will attempt to cross the highway in order to access town. He said there was a fatality three years ago on the Trans Canada when a pedestrian was struck by a vehicle on the highway.
“What we seem to do in this town is approve a development and then think about trailheads, wildlife, amenities, etc,” said Pissot.
He also said they are loading up too many people against the slope. He said there is already a problem with residents of the Peaks of Grassi entering the wildlife corridor. He said adding more people to the area will only exacerbate the problem, and create an enforcement issue.
“If we put more people against the slope, are we going to create an enforcement issue,” Pissot asked.
The current plans for the Palliser Lands include smaller future commercial development. Administration has also discussed options for highway crossings at the site.
Ian Wilkinson, representing New Life Church did not oppose the development, however he said the church did have concerns about the project.
“50 feet seems tall and will impact our view,” Wilkinson said. “Also the road coming into our the property has no bern. People will park there, and that will impact our property.”
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