The stalling of a development planned for Canoe has prompted concern around road access.
That concern was shared by a resident in a letter received by council at its July 22 meeting. It had to do with a housing development of 60 duplexes proposed for 4400 and 4600 Canoe Beach Dr.
Council received a presentation from Nigel Watson, manufacturing manager for TA Structures, on behalf of developer David Claeys of BDGA Development Company Inc. on the housing project, intended to go up in four phases, during an August 2022 permit hearing. Council supported the project unanimously, as did members of the public present.
Guessing the project won't be proceeding as planned, the letter writer said they were concerned the developer's plans to build the road from 45th Street NE to Canoe Beach Drive wouldn't be happening.
"So what is the city going to do now?" asked the writer. "At this point there is only one exit from the west down 70th Ave to 50th St. This is not safe or acceptable with the number of homes… built in the last few years. If there were a fire it would be bedlam in Canoe."
Coun. Louise Wallace Richmond said the writer had a valid question and asked if there were any comments from staff.
Engineering and public works director Rob Niewenhuizen said he and senior planner Melinda Smyrl met with the property owners who, due to market conditions, are rethinking the development.
"They are very enthusiastic about moving forward with a different plan," said Niewenhuizen. "They’re obviously doing some homework right now to see what will work with them. Because of the large properties they have an enormous amount of frontage works to do and that’s what’s sort of holding them back… the cost of infrastructure right now is very high so they’re maybe looking at doing a smaller bite of that and slowly developing it though."
Regarding 45th, Niewenhuizen said the city has a commitment from that developer "to connect that portion of the road, and we will have to look at their new plans once they submit them to see what that looks like but there is a requirement for that connection to go through."
Richmond noted every summer, with wildfires, anxieties arise around road access/egress.
"I just wanted to acknowledge the concern, I completely understand, but it’s not going to be a today think unfortunateley…," said Richmond.
Chiming in, Coun. Kevin Flynn urged being open to ideas.
"I think whatever comes forward, I’m not saying we have lots of money to spend but as a council we need to think about the fact that – it’s not a partnership – but we can’t expect a developer, in my mind, to necessarily pay all of those costs," said Flynn.
