Red Deer Minute: Duplex Suites, Payment Pause, and an OPS Injunction Granted

Red Deer Minute: Duplex Suites, Payment Pause, and an OPS Injunction Granted

 

Red Deer Minute - Your weekly one-minute summary of Red Deer politics

 

This Week In Red Deer:

  • This morning, at 10:00 am, there will be a meeting of the Council Agenda Review Committee. The Committee will set the agendas for the January 27th meeting of City Council and the February 5th Committee of the Whole meeting. The Nomination Committee will meet on Thursday. No agenda is available for this meeting yet.

  • The City of Red Deer is seeking members for a new Downtown Governance Collaboration Committee to develop strategies addressing the downtown area's evolving needs. The Committee will focus on fostering collaboration, improving coordination, and creating sustainable funding models for businesses, residents, and the community. The City is looking for representatives from downtown businesses, residents, employees, and organizations like the Downtown Business Association, Chamber of Commerce, and Red Deer Tourism. Applications are open online until January 29th, 2025.

  • The City is granting the Westerner Exhibition Association (WEA) relief on their $19-million loan, pausing interest and principal payments until April 1st, 2027. The loan, initially approved in 2021, remains payable in full by the end of its term. Annual financial updates will be presented to Council until the payment pause concludes.

 


 

Last Week In Red Deer:

  • A judge has ordered the restoration of 24-hour service at Red Deer's overdose prevention site, following a reduction in hours earlier this month. The decision came after a lawsuit filed on behalf of a site user argued that cutting OPS hours violated their Charter rights and endangered lives. The court found that the provincial government’s decision to reduce hours was not justified, as no alternative service was available that provided the same level of care. The interim injunction, effective until mid-March, prevents the OPS from further reducing hours while the case proceeds. Despite this ruling, the Alberta government intends to appeal the decision.

  • Council approved changes allowing duplex owners to develop house suites through a newly adopted Direct Control Zone. This zoning amendment, prompted by a specific application on Rutherford Drive, enables house suites in duplexes at select locations within the city. Previously, house suites were only permitted in standalone houses under the residential zoning bylaw. Duplex owners must apply for a zoning change to pursue this option, giving planners an opportunity to evaluate its impact. The City has seen increasing interest from duplex owners exploring house suite development since the initial application in September 2024.

  • Housing starts in Red Deer surged by 87% in 2024, rising from 189 in 2023 to 354. Large apartment developments, including a 62-unit and a 166-unit project, significantly contributed to the growth, alongside increases in secondary suites. Alberta saw a provincial housing start increase of 32%, leading the nation per capita, with record apartment starts in early 2024. Nationally, housing starts rose by 2%.

 

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  • Common Sense Red Deer
    published this page in News 2025-01-19 00:57:36 -0700