Town Council had their hands full with bylaws at the Dec. 9 council meeting, unanimously approving an amendment to land use bylaw for a single property in Phase1 of Riversong.
Located at 298 River Heights Drive, the property was originally intended for a single-detached home. The property will now be used as a public utility lot.
The land was transferred from the developer to the Town of Cochrane for the cost of $1.
In other bylaw-related news, council postponed the first reading of Bylaw 19/2013, a proposed amendment that would close about a half hectare of road allowance area within Cochrane boundaries.
The owners of the multi-family parcel in Jumping Pound Ridge proposed the road closure. The idea is to consolidate the road allowance area with the adjacent multi-family parcel to add to the developable area of the parcel.
Postponing the first reading of the bylaw will give Town administration more time to work with all parties in regards to continued access to all parcels.
Parking problems
Cochrane’s mayor and councillors revisited a discussion regarding potential parking issues along River Heights Drive in the new residential area of the Willows Phase 2.
Concerns about visitor parking in the area were brought to Town Council this summer. Despite these concerns, the proposal for land use development was approved at that time.
The Willows of River Heights is planned to include street-oriented townhomes — including those along River Heights Drive. As it is anticipated that parking will not be allowed along River Heights Drive, visitors will be left to park in one of two parking spaces allotted to each unit, or park on adjacent streets.
The Cochrane Planning Commission felt these parking concerns should be addressed before residents move into the development.
Councillor Jeff Toews was not happy to see the issue revisited, saying the problems associated with lack of parking should have been solved before the development was approved.
Councillor Mary Lou Davies supported Toews’ concerns, and suggested parking solutions to be visited, including rear-lane parking suggestions or parking permits to limit street parking.
Council approved the motion that town administration begins to investigate the matter, and report back with traffic and parking recommendations once the information has been accrued.
Budget approved
Town council unanimously approved the 2014 budget at the afternoon meeting.
A number of cuts that were proposed during the budget deliberations Nov. 22 were implemented, including negating a $100,000 payment into the reserve fund for the future development of a transit system, and shelving the $8-million police station until after 2014’s strategic planning has been finalized.
Cochrane residents can only expect to see a 0.34 per cent increase on this year’s property taxes. Based on an average residential assessment value of $428,200, this translates to an increase of about $7.23 a year, or $0.60 a month.
The adjustments to the 2014 Operating Budget reduced the cost of operations by $208,050.
Council also approved increases in the fees associated with storm sewer, sewer and waste services. These changes will go up $3.73 per month for each household.
Cochrane online
The Town of Cochrane had the soft launch of its revamped website the evening of Dec. 10.
Presented to council by Mike Korman, the new site has been designed to be more user friendly than the older page.
“It’s been designed from the point of view of a resident, not administration,” said Korman, economic development manager with the town.
“We wanted to be no more than two clicks away from whatever information an individual is looking for. (In most cases), I think we’re only one click away.”
The updated Town of Cochrane webpage, which is mobile ready, comes complete with a forum-style option where the public can suggest ideas or provide feedback to town staff.
Beginning in January, regular council meetings will return to a 6 p.m. start time.
