Condo development approved
City council approved rezoning and changes to the Official Community Plan (OCP) to allow a controversial condominium development at the corner of LaSalle Avenue and Hazelton Street.
Local developer Kirk Gable plans to construct a five-unit apartment and two single-family homes on a pair of lots on LaSalle Avenue.
Area residents were divided on the proposal, with 12 submitting letters against the proposal and 15 in support.
Two residents spoke out against the proposal, and three in favour of it, during the public hearing prior to council's vote.
City staff recommended denying the rezoning. However city council voted in favour of the rezoning, with Coun. Cameron Stolz being the only vote against the bylaw.
Green fleet approved
City council approved the purchase of a fully-electric car on Monday, as part of the city's Green Fleet initiative.
In addition to the purchase of the Nissan Leaf electric car, council approved the construction of three charging stations, converting five gasoline fleet vehicles to propane and installing a hydraulic torque assist system on one of the city's garbage trucks.
The three initiatives are pegged at $142,000 with 100 per cent of the cost being covered by a federal Community Works grant.
The electric vehicle is expected to save the city $18,000 in operating costs over its seven-year lifecycle. The propane conversion is expected to reduce city fuel costs by $18,000 per year, while the hydraulic torque assist system is expected to save $4,000 in fuel per year.
The three initiatives are expected to reduce greenhouse gas emission by almost 25 tonnes per year.
Duchess Park upgrade
City council approved the second phase of development for Duchess Park on Monday.
On March 16, the provincial government announced $400,000 in grants for development of the park, located adjacent to Duchess Park secondary school. The city committed $246,000 from the capital expenditure reserve and received $20,000 in private donations for development of the park.
The initial plan for the park called for the development of an accessible playground, outdoor amphitheater, hard surface tennis court with lighting, mini-bike park, paved and gravel trails, lighting, public art, furnishings and trees.
Because the provincial grant is $234,000 less than anticipated, the amphitheater has been removed from the 2012 plan. In addition, the mini-bike park has been scaled down to reduce costs, city manager of parks Flavio Viola wrote in his report to council.
Construction is expected to start in May and be complete by October.
