East Enders looking to have their voices heard about the future of their community are encouraged to attend a public hearing session next week.
The Cochrane Settlement Community Association is putting the word out to their neighbours to show up to the Jan. 8 public hearing session at town council and speak out about how they would like to see future development play out in their community.
“We live here and this is our neighbourhood … we would like to have a bit of input,” said Igor Vissor, stressing the community association is not against development, but wants to ensure residents are at the stakeholders’ table.
Public interest was prompted by a rezoning application made by the landowner of 308 and 312 First Street East to re-designate the lands from their current R2X status to Commercial Business (CB) with specific restrictions, including drinking establishments as discretionary rather than permitted use and a maximum building height restriction of three stories.
This would mean that any application for drinking establishments would be subject to additional scrutiny, including going before the Cochrane Planning Commission.
The R2X designation is unique to the East End as per the 2002 Neighbourhood Plan (NP), providing a transitional density between low and high densities, namely fourplex units.
The CB designation allows for a broader range of commercial business uses on this property and this application may open up a bigger conversation about redevelopment in the East End.
Vissor said the application sheds light on the need to open up the dated NP for the East End and perhaps update the R2X zoning.
What he would like to see are clear guidelines for any potential developments in order to maintain the integrity and feel of the community, including adhering to the town’s Western Heritage Guidelines (WHG), and avoidance of a “cookie-cutter” community that is often the outcome of urban sprawl.
What he does not want to see are a bunch of vacant lots cluttering the landscape.
Development services confirmed any current applications for commercial development must meet the town’s WHG.
The town has confirmed there are no current plans or budget dollars to review the East End NP.
“An application likes this prompts this discussion ... there hasn’t been a lot of development pressures in the East End in recent years,” said Drew Hyndman, senior manager of development services.
While development services has yet to receive a formal development permit application, the landowner has expressed interest to build a three-storey building with commercial spaces on the ground level and residential units on the two floors above.
“The redevelopment pressures on the East End offer a real opportunity to revitalize parts of the community,” said Coun. Tara McFadden, a former East End resident.
“We need to work with everyone to ensure that any change respects the residents and preserves the uniqueness of the area. Residents and the community association are an important part of this conversation.”
The next community association meeting will be held Jan. 22 from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. at Big Hill Lodge. Those interested are encouraged to reach out to the Cochrane Settlement Community Association Facebook page.
