Title Image
Title Image Caption
Downtown parking, and a municipal planning development amendment were the highlights of the March 10 Lacombe City Council regular meeting.
File photo/Central Alberta Online.
Categories

Lacombe City Council discussed downtown parking, and a municipal planning development amendment during the March 10 regular meeting.  

Here are the meeting highlights:  

Public hearings  

Bylaw 405.4 – Municipal Planning Development Amendment - Map 1 & Bylaw 400.70 Land Use Bylaw Amendments   

Notice was given that the Council of the City of Lacombe gave first reading to Bylaw 405.4 to amend the Municipal Development Plan (MDP) and Bylaw 400.70 to amend Land Use Bylaw 400.   

The City of Lacombe consulted the public to obtain feedback on the proposed amendment through delivery of written notification of the Land Use Bylaw amendment and the public hearing date and time to adjacent landowners within 60 m of the subject parcels. Broad public notice of the proposed amendment and public hearing was in the form of an advertisement, and information posted on the City’s website.   

Requests for Decision  

Bylaw 405.4 – Municipal Planning Development Amendment - Map 1 & Bylaw 400.70 Land Use Bylaw Amendments - Second & Third Reading  

The Applicant is proposing to develop the subject parcels in Lacombe’s downtown as Apartment Housing but wishes to have some flexibility for other land uses and development options in the future and has requested Direct Control zoning for the parcels.   

To approve the proposed residential development (and proposed DC District), amendments to the City’s MDP Map 1 are required, as well as the creation of a new Direct Control District to be added to the LUB as well as redesignation of the subject parcels to the proposed Direct Control District (DC4) zoning.   

Council gave second and third reading to Bylaw 405.4, and gave second and third reading to Bylaw 400.70, as amended.  

Downtown Parking Update – 49B Avenue  

As part of the Bi-Annual Sidewalk Improvement Program, Administration is proposing 49B Avenue include additional benches, garbage cans, and limited green space. The proposal does not include new trees, which have historically caused infrastructure damage and accessibility challenges. Instead, bulb-outs are strategically proposed in areas where parking is typically not permitted. These bulb-outs will enhance aesthetics, provide functional seating and room for waste receptacles, and naturally slow vehicle speeds to improve pedestrian safety.  

Between 2004 and 2024, public parking has grown by 113 stalls (+15.1%), while private parking has increased by 23 stalls (+4.9%). While this proposal requires a reduction of 2-3 parking stalls on 49B Avenue, it maintains a three-year net positive parking balance while improving pedestrian amenities and demonstrating the feasibility of integrating green space without reintroducing trees. The overall downtown parking capacity will see a net increase of approximately 20 stalls from 2023 to 2025 due to other planned projects.  

Council directed Administration to implement the proposed sidewalk and street improvements on 49B Avenue, with costs not to exceed the allocation approved in the 2025 capital budget.  

Notice of Motion (Councillor Ross – from Feb. 24th)  

Council voted against the following Notice of Motion:   

• “Council directs Administration to automatically trigger an internal review of the assessment, whenever there is a property value increase of more than 10 per cent in one year.”  

  

The next regular council meeting is scheduled for March 24 at 5:30 p.m. at Lacombe City Hall.   

 

Sign up to get the latest local news headlines delivered directly to your inbox every afternoon. 

Send your news tips, story ideas, pictures, and videos to news@centralalbertaonline.com.

CentralAlbertaOnline encourages you to get your news directly from your trusted source by bookmarking this page and downloading the CentralAlbertaOnline app.

Portal