A narrow house built in Edmonton as an infill residence (Photo: City of Grande Prairie / Thirdstone Inc.)

By Shaun Penner

Infill Housing

City of Grande Prairie looking to increase options for infill housing

Apr 25, 2021 | 7:00 AM

The City of Grande Prairie is considering Land Use Bylaw amendments within Residential Transition Districts (RT). This is aimed at encouraging a wider range of infill housing options in the city’s more mature neighbourhoods.

The amendments are proposed in RT districts, which fall within two neighbourhoods in the city, those being Avondale and Hillside.

The areas highlighted in yellow are zoned as a Residential Transition District (Courtesy of the City of Grande Prairie)

Senior Planner Reed Des Roches says currently, the options for infill development only allow for three-plexes, duplexes, or single detached homes.

He adds with only those options available, he finds three-plexes tend to become the dominant form of development.

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“And while that does provide a valuable form of affordable rental housing, we would like to see a broader range of infill,” said Des Roches. “These changes would allow more options such as row housing, which you can already do but the changes make it so it wouldn’t require a variance.

“And then to allow for narrow houses, which we kind of saw in Edmonton’s older neighbourhoods as a nice way to offer other housing options, that encourage lower density infill, and offers more affordable housing options for ownership.”

Some examples of what is currently permitted as infill housing, as well as some of the ideas proposed in the amendments (Courtesy of the City of Grande Prairie)

Des Roches says the city would like to see more affordable options for families to purchase rather than rent in these areas.

“Rentals are great for the community,” explained Des Roches. “But, it’s good to have other options besides rentals. Something people can own, with a yard, with space for a family.”

These options would only be permitted if parking was provided off of a rear lane, Des Roches adds. The changes also include an increase in the required number of parking stalls for row housing when shared visitor parking is not provided.

He adds the changes would not allow for a higher density of units but would encourage other types of development.

“These changes just kind of even the playing field between row houses and three-plexes, but it will not change the allowable density at all.”

A public hearing will be held at Grande Prairie City Council’s meeting on May 3. Des Roches is encouraging any member of the public who would like to speak to this matter at the meeting to email agendaadmin@cityofgp.com to submit their presentations via email or receive access to attend remotely via Zoom.