St. Albert won’t change how many lots of different sizes it will require of residential developers.
Councillors on Monday voted down first reading of an amendment that would have changed the lot width mix in low-density residential developments, or R1 areas.
Specifically, the proposed amendment would have seen the maximum number of large lots allowed in a development reduced from 50 per cent to 30 per cent.
Lots in any new development are considered large if they are 14.5 square metres. As well, extra small lots (10 to 11.5 square metres) would have been able to make up as much as 40 per cent of the lot mix in any development.
In a public hearing earlier this year, several developers told city council requiring more extra small lots would make their planning more difficult. They also contended it would not necessarily lead to more affordable homes.
On Monday city staff provided a presentation that subtly encouraged council not to bother with the amendment but instead look at the idea within the affordable housing strategy passed last year.
“A broader strategy (on housing) would allow the city to better prioritize,” said Carol Bergum, the city’s senior long-range planner.
Developers have contended it is land price that drives house cost. Several contended in the March public hearing that building houses on extra small lots will create less expensive homes, but they won’t necessarily count as affordable.
For Mayor Nolan Crouse and others on council, the change to more extra small lots isn’t just about more homes – it’s about less space for boulevard trees, snow removal, and an increased risk of fire spread because homes are built more closely together.
“All the studies we’ve seen show this scenario has a very marginal effect on house price,” Crouse said. “It’s more complicated and I think there’s a better package of things we can do than just that.”
In Crouse’s mind and in the minds of many others, multi-family housing provides a better chance to create more affordable housing than building houses on extra-small lots.
“Apartments and condos will give you more bang for your buck,” Crouse said.
But what happens next isn’t known. While council defeated first reading of the bylaw, it did not give staff any kind of direction. That means the current lot width distribution guidelines will remain as is.
“(Staff) is going to have to do some thinking,” Crouse said. “We won’t revisit this before the election.”
