On Monday city council voted 6-1 to rezone the former Union Hospital lands at 455 Fairford Street East from Community Service/Institutional District (CS) to Core Mixed Residential District (R4).
Coun. Brian Swanson was opposed.
Council purchased this property in 2015 for the purpose of re-sale, says a council report. City administration has conducted an assessment to see if the property is suitable for redevelopment. The property needs to be rezoned to attract developers.
Swanson was “befuddled” as to why council bought the land in the first place, since administration said in 2015 that the municipality would make money from it. Now administration wants to sell the land without enhancements.
“For 10 years I was the person who maintained this property,” he said. “I can remember a couple of times where water came up to the building there.”
Administration is not looking to place any zoning restrictions on that property because of flood concerns, said Michelle Sanson, director of planning and development services.
SaskWater has not told the department to change the property to floodway.
