The ever-divisive land use bylaw has once again received first reading.
Read more: Lloydminster continues land use bylaw review
Municipalities are required to have a land use bylaw in place under the Municipal Government Act.
The process to overhaul the current bylaw and make it more user-friendly has been ongoing since 2016 with nearly 60 amendments.
The bylaw received its first reading at the Sept. 9, 2024 meeting before a surprise motion by Lloydminster Mayor Gerald Aalbers radically changed the bylaw, sending administration back to the drawing board.
Just moments before a public meeting was set at the Oct. 7, 2024 council meeting, Aalbers put forward a motion to change the number of units allowed in low-density residential districts, a proposed change the public was strongly against.
At the April 7 council meeting, administration brought forward another draft of the bylaw for consideration.
Coun. Michele Charles Gustafson praised administration for their work and for incorporating changes they heard from the public.
“I want to first commend you for something I shared before I sat in this chair that I think every resident wants. They want a real, digestible way to understand their city. After reading this, this is plain language and it feels digestible,” she said.
“It’s something you can share why we must have it because we must have it, it’s part of legislation. You shared the aim with it, which is to design our city over the next 20 years that makes sense to the residents that live here, based on core values and drivers that we set out previously in the municipal development plan.”
Some clarity was given into the role of the development authority.
“The development authority is on an annual basis appointed by the city manager to city staff. We have three individuals employed with the city right now who act as the development officers, in essence, fulfilling the role of the development authority,” said Natasha Pidkowa, manager of planning with the City of Lloydminster.
“We have three members of administration who can do that in addition to the city manager. The city manager at any time can exercise his authority as the development authority.”
Pidkowa says when it comes to appealing decisions, it’s not always black and white.
“You cannot appeal every decision, you can appeal a discretionary use decision,” she said.
Both approvals or refusals can be appealed to the Subdivision and Development Appeals Board, which exists independently in the city.
“The subdivision and development appeal board members are members of the community, they’re public members they’re not members of administration. We do have members of council appointed and trained to sit on the board but we do try to only utilize in the event we are short for forum,” said Marilyn Lavoie, city clerk.
Variances allowed have remained a topic of discussion as the new bylaw would allow up to a 25 per cent variance.
Pidkowa pointed out applicants can apply for up to 25 per cent variance, the city, however, can give them less than the maximum.
The bylaw specifically states, “A variance shall not exceed 25 per cent of the bylaw’s requirements.”
Coun. Justin Vance says he’s been hearing from the public regarding the increase in lot coverage.
“The other one I’ve been hearing a lot in the public is still that increase lot coverage from 50 to 60 per cent,” said Vance, looking to see if Pidkowa’s team had heard similar issues.
She gave some clarity into the rationale behind the decision to increase lot coverage to 60 per cent.
“The additional increase in lot coverage was provided to provide landowners a little bit of additional flexibility as to what they can build on their lots,” said Pidkowa. “Lot coverage isn’t simply just a single-family home, all of your decks and sheds and built structures also go in to count in your lot coverage.”
She says lot coverage in industrial or commercial districts doesn’t come into effect as the property they’re dealing with is much larger.
Aalbers commented on what he has been hearing from the public about the bylaw changes.
“I haven’t had an immense amount of people saying, ‘You’re going totally off in the wrong direction.’ People are concerned that bylaws are setting rules … people have come to agree we do need some rules,” he said, pointing out there’s rules governing other aspects of life like driving down the highway.
He says to reach out to the city if there are any concerns residents feel city hall hasn’t addressed.
“I hope if they have concerns they’ll reach out to myself, council members, city administration, through planning,” said Aalbers.
A public hearing is scheduled for at 2 p.m. on April 28. Written submissions can be submitted ahead of time.
Council gave first reading to the Land Use Bylaw.
Read more: Public heard in land use bylaw draft
