A parking lot and a contractor’s office will soon pop up on Athabasca Street East and Lancaster Road, respectively, after city council approved the owners’ discretionary use applications.
Gold Key Investments asked that it be allowed to create a parking lot at 402 Athabasca Street East. Parking areas are a discretionary use in the R4 core mixed residential district in which this lot exists; therefore council permission was required.
Arnil Construction asked that it be allowed to use 21 Lancaster Road as a contractors’ office and associated yards. This is a discretionary use in the C3 vehile-oriented commercial district; therefore council permission was required.
Council unanimously approved both discretionary use application requests during its most recent regular meeting.
Athabasca Street East
The property is located on the corner of Fourth Avenue Northeast and Athabasca Street East, according to a city administration report. The property is a single lot measuring 50 feet by 125 feet. The lot was previously occupied by a multiple unit dwelling that was damaged by a fire in 2006. The building was demolished in 2008 and the property has been vacant ever since.
Brent Boechler, president of Athabasca Heated Storage, explained to council that the parking lot would address an increase in employment activity at 461 Athabasca Street East. A new company called Nexii is being formed; this company would have a production plant and research and development centre and would have up to 60 employees.
This many employees would put pressure on street parking for existing businesses and residents, said Boechler, so the new parking lot would reduce of the use of parking along the 400 block of that street.
Athabasca Heated Storage intends to install 24 parking spots for light vehicles to use.
Lancaster Road
The property at 21 Lancaster Road measure 148 feet by 278 feet. This lot has not been previously developed.
A city administration report explained that most light industrial uses, such as contractor’s offices and yards, are discretionary in this district to prevent potential nuisance to surrounding commercial users. However, since this area already has offices and other light industrial users, it is unlikely this project would negatively affect them.
The next regular council meeting is Monday, May 27.
