Coun. Morgan Nagel is advocating for a new type of zoning, “Residential Estates” (R-E) to address what he feels is a gap in housing product availability for Cochrane homeowners.
“We need a greater diversity of housing options in Cochrane - a low-density, traditional-style of housing,” said Nagel, citing communities ranging from Rolling Range Estates to Bow Meadows as examples.
“Municipal governments are pushing for higher densities … but when I talk to everyday people, a lot of them are furious with the direction we are headed.”
Nagel feels strongly that the town has provided ample higher density options – condos, townhomes and infill-style housing in the newer communities.
He is concerned that larger families or those looking to move into homes with higher setbacks between neighbours or more estate-style housing often have to move outside of town and into bordering Rocky View County to find it.
Drew Hyndman, senior manager of development services for the town, said under the current Land Use Bylaw there are no restrictions preventing estate-style housing under the R-1 (single family) zoning – only that land economics have changed significantly since Cochrane’s older communities were built with larger lot sizes.
“We will be looking at all our land use districts, including Coun. Nagel’s request for estate zoning, through the Land Use Bylaw (LBU) review that will be taking place later this year,” he said.
Hyndman emphasized that diverse housing options are a must for all communities – to provide options for all income levels and needs. Distinctions between neighbourhoods also add value to the town’s character.
Mayor Jeff Genung said he looks forward to debating the motion with council and could see it incorporated into the review and rewrite of the Land Use Bylaw.
Genung said rather than focusing on density numbers or zoning, he would like to focus on ensuring development is done right and that there is a process of accountability through the planning stages – to mitigate any outcomes that veer from the approved vision.
Hyndman said his team will be providing an update on the LUB review next month and there will be ample opportunities for the public to provide feedback as the process moves along.
The LUB is Cochrane’s major planning toolbox and was last updated in 2004, when the town had a population of 12,418.
The 2017 municipal census reveals a population of 26,320.
