A house located near an outcropping of the Southeast Hill (top-centre) is again the subject of a development application where the owner plans to build a new large home on the lot. A similar plan in 2022 was defeated at city council after nearby neighbours objected, stating their concerns for the stability of the nearby slope.--News File Photo
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A proposal to build a luxury home near the edge of the Southeast hill will be back before the municipal planning commission Wednesday, one year after it was rejected by council when neighbours raised concerns about slope stability.
Construction company owner Rick Wahl applied in the summer of 2022 to demolish the existing house that faces 12th Street but is addressed on Sixth Avenue, and build a new residence near the end of a trail and outcropping above the Seven Persons Creek coulee.
At that time neighbours launched formal objection stating they feared the plan to demolish the existing home, drive piles and pour a new larger foundation would destabilize the slope near their homes.
City council members voted 4-4 on the planning department’s recommendation to allow construction to proceed. Motions are considered defeated on tie votes.
The new permit application includes a geomatic survey of the site that will be presented to MPC members when they take up the issue at about 2:30 p.m. in council chambers.
The lot was the subject of controversy in 2015 when council revoked a standing offer from the city land department to the previous owner. The long-standing plan had been to acquire the land and add it to nearby environmental reserve and the trail.
Mill storage approved
A plan to allow temporary RV storage on 16 acres of the ADM Flour Mill site in central Medicine Hat was approved on Monday by council.
The owner, 12Tewnty2 Ltd., plans to redevelop the building into a “hub” model business to host and lease manufacturing and energy industry research, but told the municipal planning commission this month that the land could be used to earn income while the larger redevelopment is underway.
The change was approved 9-0 with council members saying they would support storage at the site on condition that it end within three years of approval.
The mill, located qt 1222 Allowance Ave., has been vacant since it was closed and put up for sale in 2013.
Other conditions include that the site be kept in orderly fashion, and that no permanent improvements like parking pads could be made without further approval.
No sea-cans storage would be allowed and vehicles would be removed in times of high water on the nearby Seven Persons Creek.
“In this particular case, because it’s in the flood fringe area, we will only allow RVs that could be moved very quickly,” said Robert Sissons, the city’s manager of planning and development. “We think it’s a reasonable amount of time for the developer to get their plans set and start on the next project on the site.”
Because the land is considered a “direct control zone” and direct approval of council is required on all development permits or change of use.
The application was approved 9-0.
