Property near Coteau Street East is being rezoned so Carpere Canada can turn it into a residential area, which means the company — and not the municipality — is responsible for servicing the site.
The land — bordered by Victoria Street and Ninth Avenue Southeast — is currently zoned as urban holding and is identified as future residential in the City of Moose Jaw’s Official Community Plan, according to a city council report. Normally, a concept plan would be prepared and approved for a new development area prior to rezoning and subdivision.
However, the city administration report noted in this case, the agreement with Carpere requires the land be rezoned prior to the sale, that a concept plan be completed, and a servicing agreement executed prior to any development occurring. The area also has to be subdivided prior to development.
During its Aug. 26 regular meeting, council voted 5-1 to proceed with rezoning the 64 acres to R1 large lot low density residential from UH urban holding. Coun. Brian Swanson was opposed, while Coun. Chris Warren was absent.
Completing the rezoning of this land is part of the municipality’s agreement with Carpere, while the 64 acres is part of the 780 total acres that Carpere purchased.
Council discussion
This motion will create a new subdivision, Swanson said. He wondered if city administration had any preliminary idea of what costs would be to service this area for water and sewer.
“We have not looked into that. That would be the requirement of the developer,” said Michelle Sanson, director of planning and development. Carpere would be required to provide any upgrades to services on the property.
City administration has not looked at if there is sufficient water or sewer needs in that area, she continued. It has only looked at the entire subdivision as a whole and has specifically focused on the industrial land. Carpere is responsible for all the costs of developing the area. It would have to contact city hall when it plans to do proceed, but has not yet done so.
“Should this transpire, I’m looking to hold that to be the truth, that there are no costs associated,” Swanson said. “We don’t know what they might be, but they’re not going to be the responsibility of taxpayers in Moose Jaw to provide services to this site.”
Southeast Industrial Park
Council also voted 5-1 — Swanson was again opposed — to approve the consolidation and subdivision of the property that is subject to the purchase agreement with Carpere (780 acres) and SaskPower (1009.82 acres). The consolidations and subdivision will help with the overall sales agreement with all parties.
The consolidation of land turns them into more manageable parcels of property, said Sanson. Those lots will then be subdivided in the future as per the purchase agreement.
The next executive committee meeting is Sept. 9.
