A developer’s sign announcing the intent to relocate an old house to make way for multifamily housing has sparked concern online.
The online controversy prompted clarification from High River Mayor Craig Snodgrass during the July 14 Regular Council Meeting.
The developer of the 605 MacLeod Trail project purchased the property and submitted a development permit last week.
“It's being reviewed by staff to see if it's actually a complete application at this point in time,” Snodgrass said. “There's nothing approved.”
He explained that for the current proposed design to be completed as depicted on the sign, variances need to be granted as relaxations to High River’s Land Use Bylaw.
“We have great concerns with some of those variances that are being asked to be relaxed on,” Snodgrass said. “That's where we're at right now. It's in the development permit stage.”
Some of the concerns from residents online included the age of the home on the property, keeping unique homes in the town, and parking.
“When you buy a piece of property that has a house on it, you own the property and you own the house and can do as you see fit,” Snodgrass said. “It's not our decision as to whether we start telling people they can or can't demolish their own house if they want to build something different there, that's their property, and property owners have property rights.”
The developer took to social media to clear up a few misconceptions regarding the potential project.
Jordan Laporte, owner of J Laporte Holdings Ltd, explained that the existing home on the property will be relocated, not demolished.
As for parking concerns, he will review the parking plan and make changes to mitigate negative impacts in the area.
“I get that this home is a staple in High River, but I also believe High River needs more accessible, thoughtfully built rentals, especially close to key services like the hospital,” Laporte said.
The development permit has been submitted to the town, and staff are reviewing the application.
If staff deem the application to be complete, the project will go to council for discussion before anything is approved.
“There’s a lot to be done and discussed on the project going forward," Snodgrass said. “Anybody who thinks it's a done deal, it is absolutely not; there’s a lot of work to do."