The Subdivision and Development Appeal Board has denied a proposed six-storey seniors’ complex in Fireside.
Points West Living appealed its own development to request the original design concept be changed to add two storeys to the building, which would have raised the height to six-storeys.
The appeal board stated that it worked with the applicant on various issues that arose with respect to the design of the initial building and the site and specifically the building height, however could not reach an agreement on changing the proposed height of the building.
The appeal board held an open house earlier this year with the developer and concerned residents. Eight Fireside residents expressed concerns about the proposed building ranging from traffic volume, safety issues, privacy, property value and compatibility.
The developer’s lawyer Jerritt Pawlyk spoke at the meeting to present sun/shade studies showing both the four-storey and six-storey concepts had “minimal impacts” from shade. Pawlyk also stated the bylaw was “vague” and emphasized the fact that the building permit had already been approved and the only issue the board should have considered was the height.
The Subdivision and Development Appeal Board denied the request for the six-storey building during the last week in July, citing several reasons for its decision.
Among those were: there was not sufficient detail provided for the alternative proposal, the sun/shadow impact at four-storeys was enough to consider that any further increase is not compatible with the neighbouring properties and the relative building mass at six-storeys made the building incompatible with the surrounding neighbourhood.
“They can pursue legal action, we did consider that before our final decision. We feel under our bylaw that we have the opportunity to take the direction that we did,” said Drew Hyndman, senior manager of development services for the town.
Hyndman said the developer has 30 days to appeal the decision and while the town had not heard from Points West Living at press time, Cochrane administration is open to working with the developer.
“We are supportive of the development of a seniors’ complex, we were quite concerned on the height and impact of the adjacent communities but we look forwarding to working with Points West Living when they are ready to pursue development,” Hyndman said.
Points West Living did not return requests for an interview before presstime.
