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Habitat project headed for another public hearing

A controversial affordable housing project proposed for Akinsdale could proceed with 24 units but the issue will go through another public hearing several months from now before anything is built.

A controversial affordable housing project proposed for Akinsdale could proceed with 24 units but the issue will go through another public hearing several months from now before anything is built.

City council voted Monday night to rezone the land at 70 Arlington Dr. to direct control, opening the door for residential development. But council stopped short of approving a proposed development permit that would have allowed 30 units to be built.

The decision means that the city must hold another round of consultations, which includes informing area residents of the proposal and holding another public hearing.

Instead, council directed administration to work with Habitat on a plan to develop 24 units. The decision came after hearing more than two dozen complaints from the gallery about the project density.

Afterward, Habitat For Humanity Edmonton president Alfred Nikolai wondered whether a project of that scale would be doable for his organization.

"If you keep reducing it to a certain level, they're not affordable any more," he said. "It's not up to me but our board's got a really difficult decision to make right now, in fact, if we can't build affordable houses on that property, we won't be building any houses."

He said council was in a difficult position, with the outspoken criticism it's faced from Akinsdale residents, and made a political decision.

"Now it's our turn to analyze whether we can do that or not," he said. "It could absolutely be a non-starter."

Several Akinsdale residents said they would have preferred to see less than 20 units, but 24 was some progress.

"It does give more respect to what the neighbours asked for. It does not really address anything. It's a compromise," said resident Sheena Hughes. "They're moving in the right direction."

The decision came after an up and down series of amendments.

Prior to tonight's meeting, Habitat had proposed 34 units, but the city's administration instead came forward with a recommendation for 30. During council deliberations, Coun. Roger Lemieux suggested the number of units be reduced to 24. The motion passed.

Coun. Lorie Garritty then proposed restoring the number at 30. That effort failed. Coun. James Burrows wanted 18 units but council settled on 24.

"It has to be affordable and it has to work financially," said Lemieux. "I felt that 24 units was fair and it's affordable."

When Habitat originally shared its concept last fall, it wanted to build 58 units on the site. The number has gradually grown smaller in reaction to resistance from area residents. The issue won't come back to council until late 2010 at the earliest.

The land at 70 Arlington Dr. has been at the centre of heated debate for months. The area is owned by the St. Albert Protestant school board, which no longer needs the site for a school. The board struck a deal to sell the property to Habitat For Humanity Edmonton in 2008 but the sale requires that St. Albert city council rezone it to allow for residential.

The city itself is providing Habitat with the $840,000 to purchase the land.

The public gallery in council chambers was full as it has for previous hearings on the issue and four television news crews recording the proceedings.

More than two dozen people addressed council prior to the decision.

Many were Akinsdale residents who complained that council had ignored their concerns and input. In particular, several complaints accused council of ignoring the results of a design charette in May that provided public input to determine the size and scope of the project. That process determined widespread support for a development of 12 to 16 units, yet council proceeded to pursue a project with 28 to 34 units.

"Please listen to the people who actually gave you the opportunity to govern," said Dale Carter.

Amber Emmons said the whole proposal has been a nightmare.

"Never would I have guessed that living in St. Albert would be a nightmare, but it has been a nightmare, one that you and your developer have created for our neighbourhood," said Amber Emmons.

Lawsuit not a deterrent to hearing

The evening began with Mayor Nolan Crouse questioning whether the city could proceed with the hearing given that a group of Akinsdale residents filed a lawsuit against the city last week, seeking to stall the process. City lawyer Charlotte St. Denis said that there was no reason to delay.

"The statements made in that document are just allegations and haven't been proven in court," she said. "No court order of any type has been issued."

"There is no reason why those matters cannot be dealt with by council this evening."

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