Red Deer Minute: Assessment Notices, Reduced Hours, and Proposed Zoning Changes
Red Deer Minute: Assessment Notices, Reduced Hours, and Proposed Zoning Changes
Red Deer Minute - Your weekly one-minute summary of Red Deer politics
This Week In Red Deer:
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This morning, at 10:30 am, there will be a City Council Meeting. After Councillors get through the agenda at 5:00 pm, there will be a Public Hearing regarding a new Direct Control District that would allow house suites in duplexes on a case-by-case basis. Currently, house suites are permitted in single-family homes but not in duplexes.
- There will be a meeting of the Audit Committee at 1:00 pm on Wednesday. The Committee will discuss its 2025 Work Plan.
- Red Deer property owners will soon receive their 2025 assessment notices, reflecting a total property value of $20.8 billion, a $1.5 billion increase from last year. Residential property values saw an average increase of 9.95%, driven by strong market demand, with the most significant growth in attached and semi-detached homes. Multi-family and non-residential properties experienced more modest increases of 5.21% and 2.86%, respectively. Property owners can contact the City’s Assessment Services with questions or concerns during the review period, which ends March 18th, 2025. Finalized assessments will determine property taxes for the year.
Last Week In Red Deer:
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Red Deer’s supervised consumption site has reduced its operating hours to 12 hours daily, with plans to close completely by March. Recovery Alberta has established a daytime clinic offering addiction medicine services, while a local homeless shelter has launched an overnight overdose response team to address the gap. Recovery coaches and additional detox beds have been introduced to support individuals seeking treatment.
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Residents have strongly opposed proposed zoning changes, emphasizing the need to protect parks and natural spaces from development. Community groups, including the Parkvale and Waskasoo Community Associations, expressed concerns about allowing large facilities like churches and convention centers in park areas, citing environmental and residential impacts. Many residents criticized the City for insufficient consultation and urged Council to maintain current protections. The City clarified that the consultation process is still in its early stages, with further public input opportunities planned before any decisions are made. Final recommendations are not expected to reach Council until late in the year.
- An explosion and fire at Prairie Bus Lines left five employees hospitalized with various injuries. Emergency crews responded to the scene and quickly extinguished the fire, though they remained on-site as a precaution. Thick black smoke was seen billowing from the yard. No other buildings were damaged, and power was briefly cut to assist firefighters.
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