City of Fernie council Nov. 28 unanimously approved the first two readings of Bylaw No. 2171, covering a rezoning application for a 12.8 acre Ridgemont Meadows property, which if passed will allow for the creation of up to 200 high density dwelling units.

With the first two readings passed, the city will now take the matter to a public hearing (date yet to be announced).

The targeted property, is the northern part of the 152.5 hectare (376.8 acres) Ridgemont Holdings Ltd. property, located beside the closed landfill site to the south, with the Regional District of East Kootenay boundary to the east, north and south and parcels zoned for parks, open space, residential and light industrial to the west. The CP Rail right-of-way is also located to the west of the property.

The property is currently zoned RR (Rural Residential) and the applicant (Heaven’s Gate Holdings) wish to re-zone to R4 (Multiple Family Residential – High Density).

While maximum density on the site, under R4, would allow for 384 multi-family dwelling units, Heaven’s Gate is proposing to build “approximately” 150 multi-family dwellings and are “amenable to placing a covenant on site restricting the total number of units on site to a maximum of 200 (including affordable housing units,” noted Fernie Director of Planning Bruce Lennox in a report to council.

“It appears the primary reason for rezoning to R4, rather than R3, is to obtain the 12 metre height limit needed for the two three-storey apartment style condominiums proposed as part of this development,” Lennox noted in his extensive report.

Lennox informed council that the city has some concerns about transportation ingress/egress at the property.

“The City of Fernie Fire and Emergency Services noted that adequate primary dedicated access as well as secondary ingress and egress need to be provided to the Ridgemont Meadows and proposed Tamarack View developments. If Railway Avenue were to be extended as a public road to the north boundary of the subject proposed R4 site it would result in a cul-de-sac greater than 1,100 metres long measured from the Railway Avenue/Ridgemont Avenue intersection,” Lennox outlined, adding that the city’s legal description of a cul-de-sac states they cannot be more than 150 metres long.

“The city is concerned from the perspective of a car accident or other such event as a gas line break blocking Railway Avenue, which would not only prevent the multi-family unit residents from entering or exiting the development but also prevent emergency response vehicles from entering or exiting to respond to fire, health or law enforcement emergencies. The city is also concerned that larger events such as wildfires or train derailments carrying dangerous goods could require evacuation of the entire proposed R4 zoned Ridgemont Meadows site as well as the proposed Tamarack View community (when it is developed),” Lennox reported.

Councillor Kevin McIsaac said he likes the proposed density, while noting “this is a relatively complex undertaking.”

He also questioned Lennox if the property owners and agents have “the financial ability to do this undertaking?”

Lennox replied that he is not “privy” to such information.

Mayor Cindy Corrigan pointed out that just because a property is being rezoned does not mean “it will be developed, necessarily. How do we assure that we actually get some housing?”

Ian Cobb/e-KNOW

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