A billboard advertising a change in maximum height of a proposed multi-unit residential building sits on the Second Street lot in the North Flats. The city is studying how it informs residents of nearby development.--News Photo Collin Gallant
cgallant@medicinehatnews.com@CollinGallant
A move to place billboards advertising development permits or land-use changes at a site is now underway and being fine-tuned, city officials said Thursday, and could be expanded to include major or disruptive road projects.
The idea – posting large signs on site outlining a project and potential avenues to find more information, provide feedback or make a formal submission – has now been used twice in this fall.
It comes after senior staff promised last fall to review how neighbours are informed of zoning changes or major development permits are publicized after controversy arose at two rezoning hearings.
Municipal works director Pat Bohan told a meeting of the development and infrastructure committee that signs seem to have a positive effect on the development process, and will be used more often at the discretion of the planning department.
“Some large projects go through with relatively little feedback, but some of the smallest have a lot,” said Bohan. “Personally, I’ve (been at the sites and have) seen people pull over and take a picture of the QR codes on the signs.
“We need to understand the impact from a financial and staffing aspect.”
The billboards, provided by a contractor, do come at a $500 cost, but could cut down on staff hours and resources at the planning office if it can clear up questions by residents before they become formal complaints, he said.
Coun. Andy McGrogan said that along with a listing of public notices in the newspaper and other outreach, “If 10 neighbours can see and read a sign about what’s going on, it will create a lot better understanding.”
The issue stems from often heard complaints at land and municipal planning commission hearings that neighbours might not be well informed of major activity in their community, or plans to change land from one zone to another, thereby altering what’s permitted to be built.
This year, residents in Southview took the opportunity to register complaints about taller-than-expected townhouse construction that had already been built when city planners moved to update land-use for the former Scouts Hall location on Cuyler Road.
The town homes were a permitted use under the previous land-use designation as a community service district, and after the construction had taken place by a private developer, planners said the proper zoning should be reflected as medium-density residential.
The committee also heard that, among other outreach activities, the municipal works and utilities department will also consider using the billboards when major or disruptive construction is planned.
