A controversial affordable housing project in Akinsdale will proceed with construction of 30 duplex housing units.
St. Albert city council approved the development at a special meeting Wednesday afternoon.
The meeting began with Mayor Nolan Crouse informing council that Habitat For Humanity Edmonton would not be proceeding with a 24-unit development, which council had decided to pursue last week. The meeting ended with an approved development and a group of angry Akinsdale residents.
“I’m just pissed right off, that’s the bottom line,” said Gordon Wheaton.
Afterward, Mayor Nolan Crouse said he feels “tremendous pressure” from trying to further the city’s affordable housing goals while balancing the desires of a neighbourhood.
“I feel anxiety because you’ve got to find the right balance and council’s made a decision and we’ve got the right balance,” he said.
It was important for council to make a decision or risk having Habitat walk away, he said.
“It was clear to me that they weren’t going to stick around with 24 [units],” he said.
Akinsdale resident Wendy Walter was livid.
“It’s a travesty, this whole thing. It’s the worst thing I’ve ever seen,” she said.
“It redefines the neighbourhood,” said her husband, who refused to provide his first name.
“Somebody has to stand up to Habitat,” he said. “It’s like arguing against motherhood. They can do infills in two, three or five units but here, we have to have 30? It’s just wrong.”
Council decided last week that the 30-unit duplex proposal put forth by Habitat was too dense and asked the organization to calculate whether a 24-unit project was feasible.
The project has been at the centre of a neighbourhood uprising that’s included a lawsuit filed against the city by area residents. Previous versions of the project had called for 34, 58 and 63 units.
Council discussed Wednesday whether it needed to open the process to another public hearing but decided against it because members felt there had been no new information presented. This move angered the roughly dozen Akinsdale residents gathered. Crouse defended the decision afterward.
“To put the public, the neighbours, developers through another process would be unfair,” he said. “We’re ready to move on. We’re done with this.”
Coun. Lorie Garritty was the one who moved a return to 30 units.
“I strongly believe we need these homes,” he said. “The more units, the more affordable.”
“I really think it’s time to stop messing around with this whole thing,” said Coun. Carol Watamaniuk.
Coun. James Burrows continued to advocate for 18 units and was the only councillor to vote against the development.
The city called the special meeting for Wednesday afternoon after receiving word from Habitat For Humanity that a 24-unit project would not be feasible.
The decision means that the city will issue a development permit for 30 units, which Habitat has 36 months to complete.
