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During the March 24 regular meeting, Lacombe City Council discussed red tape reduction, the fire station North Area Structure Plan, and downtown development.
Here are the meeting highlights:
Open Forum
Request to Review Order to Remedy Contraventions - Ian Brown
Ian Brown held an open forum presentation for Council on a request to review Order to Remedy contraventions.
Council requested Administration return the matter to Council with a supporting Request for Decision on the
Request to Review Order to Remedy Contraventions.
Presentations
Bill 33 – Protection of Privacy Act & Bill 34 – Access to Information Act
Manager of Computer & IT Services Andrew Reed and Record Management & FOIP Coordinator Tabatha Robbins-Deutsch presented changes to the provincial Protection of Privacy Act and the Access to Information Act.
Public Hearings
Bylaw 400.69 LUB Amendment - Red Tape Reductions
Notice was given that the Council of the City of Lacombe gave first reading to Bylaw 400.69 to amend Schedule A of the Land Use Bylaw 400. If approved, Bylaw 400.69 will amend Schedule A of the LUB by decreasing permit processing timelines and providing developer flexibility.
Bylaw 263.7 - Southeast Area Structure Plan Amendment
Notice was given that the Council of the City of Lacombe gave first reading to Bylaw 263.7 to amend Bylaw 263.
If approved, Bylaw 263.7 will amend the Southeast Area Structure Plan by Deleting Map 6, Future Land Use and replacing it with Map 6, Future Land Use.
Bylaw 400.59 –Land Use Bylaw Amendments- MacKenzie Ranch FD District to R4 District
Notice was given that the Council of the City of Lacombe gave first reading to Bylaw 400.59 to amend Land Use Bylaw 400. If approved, Bylaw 400.59 will amend Schedule A of the LUB by redesignating the subject site from Future Designation (FD) District to Residential Mixed (R4) District.
Bylaw 267.6 Fire Station NASP Amendments
Notice was given that the Council of the City of Lacombe gave first reading to Bylaw 267.6 to amend the North Area Structure Plan. If approved, Bylaw 267.6 will amend the North Area Structure Plan by:
1. Deleting Section 5.7.3 in its entirety, which previously did not allow a fire station in this plan area.
2. Amending Section 5.7.4 by deleting the following text: “The City has adopted a cemetery master plan which designates the east of the cemetery as future cemetery lands” and replacing it with “The City has adopted a cemetery master plan which designates lands east of the cemetery as future cemetery as well as other institutional lands.”
Note: Institutional Lands in this case refers to the potential future location of the Lacombe Fire Station.
Requests for Decision
Bylaw 400.69 Amendments to the Land Use Bylaw – Red Tape Reduction
In 2024, the City of Lacombe identified a need to improve and streamline Land Use Bylaw (LUB) 400 in three specific ways: administratively, red tape reduction, and innovation. A series of administrative amendments were approved by Council on January 13th, 2025, under Bylaw 400.64.
The second phase, red tape reduction amendments, is presented within this report as Bylaw 400.69. The third phase, focused on innovation in the LUB, is anticipated to come forward in the latter half of 2025.
The red tape reduction amendments within Bylaw 400.69 focus on altering and/or reducing various LUB regulations to streamline and improve permit approval processes. By providing additional clarity in interpreting the LUB, by reducing permit processing times, and in some specific scenarios, by eliminating the requirement for development permits altogether; Bylaw 400.69 is intended to support and enhance a business and development-friendly environment in Lacombe. Moreover, reducing red tape for some home-based businesses, or some business signage applications, and for Accessory Uses in the Commercial Districts is seen to align with the goals of the City’s Strategic Plan, specifically to create an environment conducive for investment and development (Growing the Community).
Council gave second and third reading to Bylaw 400.69, as amended.
Bylaw 263.7 – Southeast Area Structure Plan Amendment
The City of Lacombe is currently processing proposed amendments to the Mackenzie Ranch Outline Plan which will adjust existing and proposed park space, re-configure the proposed roadways within the Outline Plan area and add additional residential lots/density.
Consideration of the proposed Outline Plan amendments requires an amendment to broadly align Map 6, Future Land Use of the SASP with the proposed Outline Plan amendments, specifically related to the changes to the park spaces, additional residential area, and roads.
Council gave second and third reading to Bylaw 263.7, as presented.
Mackenzie Ranch Outline Plan Amendments
The City has received an application for amendments to the Mackenzie Ranch Outline Plan proposing several changes including:
• Increasing the density by amending low-density residential areas to the R4 Residential Mixed District,
which offers a mix of lower and medium-density forms of residential housing types.
• Increasing the number of R1-N Residential Detached Narrow lots.
• Adding an R5 Residential Multi-Unit Dwelling District site in southern portion of the Outline Plan Area.
• Changes to the street layout to accommodate the land use changes.
• Re-configuring Park space in the south portion of the plan area.
• Decreasing the amount of Park / School site in the north-east portion of the plan, by adding more R1-N lots to that area. The re-designed Park / School site includes new trail connections.
Council approved the amendments to the Mackenzie Ranch Outline Plan as presented.
Bylaw 400.59 Land Use Bylaw Amendment – Redistricting from Future Designation to Residential Mixed District
The City received an application to change the designation of a portion of land within the Mackenzie Ranch Outline Plan to allow for multi-attached housing development to be initiated.
The proposal would re-designate the subject site, specifically a 1.148-hectare parcel to be subdivided from the remainder of the SW ¼ 20-40-26-W4, from Future Designation District (FD) to Residential Mixed District (R4).
This change was presented as an amendment to LUB 400.
Council gave second and third reading to Bylaw 400.59, as presented.
Bylaw 267.6 Amendments to the North Area Structure Plan (NASP)
Council directed Administration to proceed with all required steps to prepare land at 4410 Woodland Drive for future development of a new Fire Station. One of the required steps to prepare the parcel for development is a text amendment to the NASP to allow for a Fire Station to be located within the plan area.
The NASP was adopted in 2000 and includes lands situated in the north portion of the city. The purpose of the plan is to provide a planning framework for land use development, including the compatibility of land use patterns. It outlines the general pattern for major roadways and utilities as well as broad land uses. The NASP is a statutory document. There are two sections of the NASP that require text amendments, these being Section 5.7.3 and 5.7.4 under Community and Social Facilities.
Council gave second reading to Bylaw 267.6, as presented.
49C Avenue Plaza Update
In 2024, Council approved the 49C Avenue Plaza Project, a two-phase initiative aimed at improving pedestrian accessibility, traffic calming, and downtown aesthetics.
Phase 1 focuses on pedestrian features such as the 50th Avenue bulb-out and rectangular rapid flashing beacons (RRFBs), sidewalk widening, and traffic features such as making 49C Avenue a one-way and adding 10 street park stalls.
Phase 2 includes closing 49C Avenue along with the additional infrastructure changes required to make it a full-time pedestrian gathering space. $600K is currently identified in the 2025-2034 Capital Plan to fund the Phase 2 work.
Contractor bids for Phase 1 exceeded the 2025 budget by $330K. To address the shortfall, Administration worked with the low bidder and the Downtown Area Redevelopment Plan (DARP) Committee to develop options for Council’s consideration.
Council approved Option 4 for the 49C Avenue Plaza, which includes the Highway 2A parking lot modifications in 2025, with a $600,000 increase to the 2025 capital budget, funded by the General Capital Reserve and authorized the replacement of the storm main between 49C Avenue and 49B Avenue (within the Highway 2A service road) in 2025, with costs not to exceed the approved budget for the 2025 Capital Program.
St. Andrew’s United Church 100 Tree Planting Project
The 100 Tree Planting Project is a collaborative effort between the City of Lacombe and the United Church to plant one-hundred trees on a municipal reserve located on the west end of Woodland Drive in Lacombe. This initiative aims to enhance environmental sustainability, foster community engagement and beautify municipal areas.
The project design has been completed following public engagement, including an open house. The project has an estimated cost to the City over three years of $36K, covered within the current budget. Administration is seeking Council’s approval to proceed with this community-driven project.
Council approved the 100 Tree Project final design and approved the naming of the space as 'Woodland Sanctuary’.
The next council meeting is scheduled for April 14 at City Hall at 5:30 p.m.
**With information provided by the City of Lacombe
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