In a move to protect the makeup of Cochrane’s Historic Downtown, Town council unanimously voted on July 14 to deny the approval of a proposal for an automotive business and drive through services that was looking to rezone multiple parcels of land along Second and Third Avenue.
The proposal, which came before council in early June, sought the approval from council to build an automotive services store and car wash on the corner of Second Avenue West and Centre Avenue.
The proposal was unpopular with local residents of the Homestead Building, who argued that the car-centric development would increase noise and vehicle traffic, and with the fire department, who said it would advise against placing an auto-repair shop right next to a multi-storey residential building.
Town administration recommended council defeat the motion because the proposal did not align with the Town’s current Land Use Bylaw, and would clash with the purpose of the Historic Downtown District.
According to Administration, the purpose of the Historic Downtown District is to "provide pedestrian oriented commercial and mixed use developments in the heart of Cochrane,” Administration’s report to council reads. “This district will contain a broad range of uses that promote the downtown as Cochrane's primary area of community social interaction and focus of civic and cultural identity."
The applicant was proposing a change to be made to the land use district from the Historic Downtown District to a new Direct Control District that would allow for new automotive focused businesses like car washes, oil and lube service shops, and repair shops-- which are currently not an allowable use within the Historic Downtown unless they were existing when the Land Use Bylaw was adopted in 2022.
In its assessment of the applicant’s proposal, Town administration said the proposal had a “negative value proposition,” and that the development would contribute to a decrease in pedestrian friendly infrastructure, and that it would not be compatible with the rest of Historic Downtown.
Councillor Alex Reed agreed with administration’s sentiment.
“To approve this challenge of our Historic Downtown bylaw would not only undermine years of careful planning and community effort to preserve the unique character of the Historic Downtown, it also sends a dangerous message. It says our bylaws can be bent or ignored.”
Reed added that council would be making a “mockery of the public hearing process” if it approved of the application after the public hearing showed that multiple parties did not approve of the development.
In its presentation to council, administration officials stated that a development like the one up for approval would find a better home in a different part of downtown, like in the developed areas south of the railway tracks and north of Griffin Road.
Many councillors made it very clear that they were in support of new businesses opening in town, but they were not comfortable with changing the makeup of Historic Downtown.
“I think we’ve gone through great measures to protect and enhance our Historic Downtown,” said Mayor Jeff Genung. “I like the business and would accept it into our community, just not into the Historic Downtown.”
