Chestermere residents will have an opportunity to speak directly to city council on September 1 as two proposed amendments to the city’s Land Use Bylaw proceed to public hearings.
The first proposal would change the zoning of part of the Bridgeport development. The second is a broader collection of amendments affecting building height, minimum lot width and the districts in which health-care facilities may be considered.
Although both are land-use amendments, they deal with substantially different questions.
Bridgeport zoning changes
The first hearing, scheduled for 10 a.m., concerns Bylaw 024-26.
The City received the application from B&A Studios on behalf of Bridgeport Chestermere Development Inc. It seeks to redesignate portions of Lot 57, Block 1, Plan 2312455 within the developing Bridgeport community.
Part of the affected land would change from Residential Single-Detached District, or R-1, to Residential Planned Lot Front Drive District, known as R-1PFD.
Another portion would change from the Direct Control Residential Cottage Housing Cluster District to a combination of Residential Single-Detached and Residential Planned Lot Rear-Lane zoning.
In practical terms, the amendment would change the types and configurations of homes that may be developed on the affected property. Front-drive zoning generally accommodates homes with vehicle access from the street, while rear-lane zoning provides vehicle access from a lane behind the property.
The Direct Control cottage-housing designation is intended for a more specialized clustered housing form. Replacing portions of it with standard residential districts would allow those areas to be developed under the rules applying to conventional single-detached, front-drive or rear-lane lots.
The proposed bylaw does not itself approve individual houses or construction permits. It establishes the zoning rules under which future subdivision and development applications would be evaluated.
Residents reviewing the proposal may want to consider the resulting housing mix, lot layout, traffic, parking and how the changes fit with the previously approved vision for Bridgeport.
Residential and health-care changes
A second hearing at 1 p.m. will address Bylaw 031-26, described by the City as a housekeeping amendment intended to improve clarity and administrative efficiency.
Some of its provisions are minor technical corrections, while others could have a broader effect.
The bylaw would change the maximum permitted form in the Residential Multi-Unit District from two storeys plus a loft to three storeys. The maximum building height would remain 12 metres, meaning the change concerns how the space within that height may be arranged rather than allowing a taller building.
It would also adjust the minimum lot width in the Residential Planned Lot Front Drive District from 10.97 metres to 11 metres and clarify how lot frontage is measured.
The amendment would additionally make health-care facilities a discretionary use in three more districts:
Eastern Town Centre Commercial
Public Services
Local Commercial, where a minimum 1.5-hectare lot would be required
A discretionary designation does not automatically permit a development. It allows the City’s development authority to consider an application and assess factors such as compatibility, traffic, parking and potential effects on neighbouring properties. Conditions may be imposed, and an application may be refused.
If approved, the change could provide additional location options for clinics and other uses meeting the Land Use Bylaw’s definition of a health-care facility.
How residents can participate
The advance deadline for submissions guaranteed inclusion in the council agenda was August 21. However, the City says later submissions will still be accepted and may be provided to council if council approves doing so by resolution.
Individuals or groups may also speak at the hearings by registering on the designated sign-in sheet before each hearing opens. Speakers must indicate whether they support or oppose the proposed amendment.
Residents should be aware that valid public-hearing submissions, including identifying information, generally become part of the public record and may be included in council minutes.
Both hearings will take place during the Tuesday, September 1 regular meeting of council. The City is expected to post a livestream link on its council-meetings webpage.
Council may approve, amend, defeat or postpone either proposal after hearing from administration, applicants and members of the public.
The complete bylaws, maps and participation information are available through the City’s public-notices page.