Photo by Curtis Galbraith

By Curtis Galbraith

City Hall

Highlights from the February 6 meeting of Grande Prairie City Council

Feb 7, 2023 | 6:00 AM

Highlights from Monday’s meeting of Grande Prairie city council:

• Close to 20 people who live in the Grande Banks neighbourhood came to council with concerns about a proposed apartel development. These are shorter stay places like a hotel but look like an apartment and have hotel services. The delegation says they were told by the city’s Planning Department about a proposed apartment development to be built at Stone Ridge Way and 67 Avenue. They said even then, they had expressed concerns about the proposal. A development permit was granted in 2019 and has been extended three times; it is due to expire in July. The delegation says the company announced last year that the intention was to build the apartel. Neighbours say they are concerned that the company has been given a permit for an apartment building when it intends to build something else, adding nearly all the people who live in Grande Banks are opposed to the idea. The delegation says they are concerned about safety for roads, bus stops, and walkers. They are asking that apartels be dealt with in the Land Use Bylaw and that any more extensions to the development permit be denied. City administration says a building permit has not yet been issued. Council has asked city staff to look at ways these developments could be regulated and to get more information on this particular development.
• Council approved a new events strategy. It is meant to, in the city’s words “provide direction and support” for events like Canada Day and the Grande North Winter Festival. Council approved dropping a $10 charge for non-profit groups to enter a float in a parade and dropped the price to $50 from $100 for any organization set up to make a profit.
• Council had an item on the agenda about the old Composite Highschool site in Avondale and having it designated as a future multi-use and recreational facility site. This was referred to the committee level for more discussion after an in camera discussion.
• Gladys Blackmore was the lone councillor to attend the meeting in person. The other eight attended online as most of council is in Ottawa for the Sustainable Communities Conference, organized by the Federation of Canadian Municipalities. It is taking place on Tuesday. Council had to pass a motion to waive part of the procedure bylaw for the duration of the meeting in order for it to go ahead.