Edmonton city council approves Wîhkwêntôwin rezoning despite warnings about historical context
CBC
Edmonton city councillors voted 9-3 on Tuesday to approve the rezoning of a property in Wîhkwêntôwin despite city staff flagging that it might not fit into the historical context of the street.
The owners of Stopgap, a central Edmonton coffee shop that has outgrown its space, are looking to build a three-storey building only a couple of blocks away on 99th Avenue and 112th Street.
The site was previously home to the historic Armstrong Residence. The building was built in 1907 but was demolished in September.
Ryan Eidick with Eins Development Consulting spoke for the owners at a public hearing for the rezoning at city hall on Tuesday.
He said the plan was originally to build the new coffee shop inside the Armstrong Residence, but problems were discovered in the foundation and it had to be demolished.
“We agree that the area's historic nature should be considered,” Eidick said. “We’ve proposed a zone with a reduced scale and intensity that respects that context.”
The new zone would limit the height allowed on the lot, but allow for wider commercial uses and remove the requirement for minimum setbacks from the street.
Lots on this block are unique because they don’t start until four metres back from the sidewalk. The new zone means the developer can build to that line.
Administration said houses sitting far back on lots is part of the historic character of the area. The lot is flanked by multiple historic homes — rare examples of what’s been preserved in one of Edmonton’s densest neighbourhoods.
David Howatt with the Wîhkwêntôwin Community League’s civics committee said he’s not opposed to development on the site, but feels the setbacks need to be in line with the surroundings.
“I think it's important that we provide some guardrails to whatever gets proposed there,” he said.
“This corner location is a keystone. It kind of demarks the over century-old homes on either side.”
City staff advocated for a different zone that would bring in requirements for an additional three-metre setback, a south-facing entrance and design elements.
Eidick said that would drive up risk for the owner by adding delays and costs.
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