City council has tentatively approved several bylaws that remove some remaining hurdles for the joint-use school project on South Hill, even though some councillors still have concerns about the initiative.
During the Feb. 13 regular meeting, city administration presented three bylaws that dealt with the closure of area streets and lanes, the exchange and closure of dedicated municipal lands, and rezoning phases 5 and 6 of the Westheath subdivision.
Specifically, Bylaw No. 5680 focuses on closing 35 undeveloped streets and lanes to accommodate the residential subdivision and school.
Bylaw No. 5681 focuses on closing several municipal reserve parcels near Wellington Drive where the hockey rink is and exchanging them for a larger municipal reserve parcel for the school. The rink and playground would move to the new school parcel.
Bylaw No. 5682 rezones phases 5 and 6 to R1 large-lot low-density residential district, R1A low-density residential district, R2 medium-density residential district and CS community service and institutional district.
Public hearings
Public hearings were held first to hear from residents concerned about the bylaws. Residents Jan Radwanski and Michel Labonte gave passionate — and sometimes fiery and emotional — presentations about why council should either defeat the bylaw amendments or push back against the location.
The Express will have stories later about those presentations.
Aside from Mayor Clive Tolley, no councillor said anything to the presenters, similar to council’s silent treatment during Radwanski’s presentation two weeks earlier.
However, councillors did speak when discussing the amendments.
Council gave three readings to all three motions but voted 4-2 on each, with councillors Kim Robinson and Dawn Luhning opposed and Coun. Heather Eby was absent.
Since the vote was not unanimous, the bylaws will return for official approval during the Feb. 27 regular meeting.
Choosing the site
Holy Trinity Catholic School Division, Prairie South School Division and the Ministry of Education — not city hall — decided to build the school in the Westheath subdivision, said Michelle Sanson, director of planning and development, in response to a council question.
When asked whether the school’s construction would take longer — a year longer, perhaps — if council defeated the bylaws, Sanson replied, “Possibly, probably longer.”
She also clarified that the location does not contradict the Official Community Plan (OCP), even though Radwanski suggested it did in his presentation. She noted that the document says schools “should” — but not “shall” — be in neighbourhoods with amenities like playgrounds.
Councillors' concerns
One of Robinson’s concerns was the OCP’s wording caused confusion. He wondered why residents should provide feedback during the current OCP revision process when it didn’t seem like the document meant anything.
“Further, I don’t think we as residents of Moose Jaw need to be told where we’re going to build stuff,” he continued. “We want to revitalize our downtown … . But why would we build a school on the very, very far outskirts?”
Robinson noted that he would support the project if there were more public consultations about its location.
Meanwhile, he thought council should defeat the bylaw amendments — even if it delayed the school’s construction a few months — since he didn’t see any urgency. He also thought this school would require a new bridge in the southwest corner, cause traffic issues and affect children’s safety.
“I don’t think it’s conducive to building a well-knit community when we have a good portion of students congregating in the far southwest corner of our city,” Robinson added.
Luhning had similar concerns as Robinson, while she indicated that she has never agreed with the location.
“And I’ve struggled with this because I have gone along with it. But my gut tells me I just don’t like the location. Unfortunately, this (foot-dragging) will not stop anything. It just delays the bylaw for two weeks,” she stated.
Regina media recently reported that Harbour Landing School — a joint-use building that opened in 2017 — is already bursting with students, which caught Luhning’s attention since a second joint-use school is required. She added that there should have been more public consultation here and council should have pushed back against the spot.
Desire for new school
The divisions have already sent out the project tender and are looking for contractors to submit proposals to construct the building, noted Coun. Crystal Froese, also a trustee with Prairie South.
Both divisions have worked toward a new school for years and their desire is for a joint-use building, said Coun. Jamey Logan. They also don’t want to spend more money fixing the existing South Hill schools “because they’re dinosaurs.”
“We’re certainly not the ones deciding. Sure, we were blindsided initially, but … if we take a step back, it (the location) makes sense,” he continued
He added that he had no concerns about children’s safety at the proposed location.
The next regular council meeting is Monday, Feb. 27.
