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Council sets density limits for Habitat project

Emotions ran high at St. Albert Place Monday night, when city council set limits that nearly cut in half the number of units for a controversial affordable housing development at 70 Arlington Dr.

Emotions ran high at St. Albert Place Monday night, when city council set limits that nearly cut in half the number of units for a controversial affordable housing development at 70 Arlington Dr.

The project has not been approved, however council set some guidelines for the development, ensuring it has at least 28 units and no more than 34.

The decision, passed in a unanimous vote, came at the end of the fourth day of public hearings for the proposed Habitat for Humanity and Apollo Developments affordable housing project. The initial proposal called for 58 townhouse units on 1.2 hectares.

Coun. Lorie Garritty recommended the minimum 28 units, a figure that was on the upper end of the 12 to 28 recommended through recent round table discussions.

His motion called on administration to draft a bylaw for the necessary zoning changes by Aug. 30 with a cul-de-sac design, mandatory basements and access along the sides of the development to Attwood Park. The bylaw would also open the door for basement suites as part of the development, providing extra parking is added.

“I believe in the process that took place,” said Garritty of the round table sessions that opened the door to 28 units. “I put that number forward and I stand by it. Fifty-eight units is too much.”

Coun. Roger Lemieux felt 28 units was too limiting and called on council to set a ceiling of 34 units. He said it would give Habitat more flexibility to determine a site plan and workable financial model.

“I want this project to fly, and if it means two or three extra units above this … I want it to happen,” he said.

The move toward 34 units led to jeers from the public gallery, which often broke into applause for 70 Arlington Dr. opponents. The booing led to a sharp rebuke from Mayor Nolan Crouse.

“This is totally unacceptable … we have listened to over 100 speakers, 500 e-mails and 100 letters,” he told the crowd, which promptly went silent. “There will be no booing in this legislature, no booing in this council.”

Coun. James Burrows attempted to lower the minimum number of units to 18, arguing the lower number would take into account residential input. The vast majority of residents at recent round table discussions favoured up to 16 units.

Burrows’ amendment was rejected in a 1-6 vote.

Alfred Nikolai, president and CEO of Habitat for Humanity Edmonton, said he was glad to finally have some numbers to work with. Now his organization’s next step is to talk to the current landowner, St. Albert Protestant Schools, and get permission to extend the sale date past the May 31 deadline, he said.

“The need is much greater than people who live in homes understand. How the homes are structured isn’t a concern for us … the more families we can help the better.”

Akinsdale resident Dave Evans said he was disappointed with the 28- and 34-unit guideline. He said residents’ concerns were more about having the development fitting into the neighbourhood in a way that’s reasonable for the space.

Meanwhile, Sheena Hughes, whose property backs onto the disputed land, said she felt like the round table sessions were wasted because of council’s direction to include a higher number of units than what residents wanted.

“Democracy should use the majority voice,” she said. “They used one table as their minimum … we realized that they were ignoring the charettes.”

Fellow resident Gerry Kress said he was disappointed with council’s decisions, and noted he was thrown by the suggestion that basement suites be added to the properties in the proposed bylaw, adding that it would potentially double the number of families in the cul-de-sac.

“Council blew a golden opportunity,” he said. “I was starting to have faith in them … obviously council has their own agenda.”

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