By Ian Cobb/e-KNOW

City of Cranbrook council last night approved two bylaws that will allow for the construction of two additional buildings at Sonja’s Garden, containing 18 one-bedroom apartments.

Council chambers was standing room only for the Sept. 14 public hearing for City of Cranbrook Official Community Plan Amendment Bylaw No. 3829 and Zoning Amendment Bylaw No. 3830 prior to council’s decision.

Seven people spoke for and against the bylaws that re-designate the 1000-21 Avenue North property from ‘Medium Density Residential’ to ‘Park/Institutional/ Recreation’ in the OCP and create a new zone – Comprehensive Development Zone 6, with a new permissible use (office spaces).

Council heard from a Canadian Mental Health Association Kootenays (CMHAK) representative, nearby residents and from Sonja Garden residents Joanne and Mike Gauthier, big players in the installation of a wheelchair lift at the Cranbrook RCMP Detachment.

Ironically, council had to move the public hearing downstairs to allow Mike Gauthier, who is in a wheelchair, to address the bylaws. (The key for the city’s wheelchair lift could not be located before the hearing.)

His message was simple. “We need more affordable housing.”

Joanne Gauthier earlier stated: “We need more low income housing for seniors and for people with diversity. We’ve got very low income and we try to live as best as we can with what we got.”

Seniors’ advocate Gary Lancaster told council, “We’re having a very challenging time for seniors, especially in the low income part of it. Golden Life has a 220-person waiting list, he added.

Those speaking against the bylaws noted concerns about the loss of a “green ambiance” with the new buildings taking up current green space/open space, utilized by wildfowl.

Nearby resident Dan Hicks suggested a “better bad outcome” scenario for the property plans, with the buildings being set back more toward Canadian Tire, allowing for beautification and “zeroscaping.”

Another nearby property owner stated he fears his property losing value if the bylaws were passed.

Other concerns expressed to the city included: noise; street parking and traffic congestion; potential of future instances of domestic discord or unrest; potential for future development on Sonja’s Garden.

Council later unanimously approved both bylaws.

Coun. Ron Popoff pointed out that the property owner (Owen & Hunter Architects applied on behalf of CMHAK and property owner, Provincial Rental Housing Corporation) could “legitimately build those two buildings right now” but because they seek to add office space, are proceeding accordingly.

Coun. Danielle Cardozo agreed, adding, “Wrap-around services (on site) will be beneficial.”

“We see there is a need there,” said Coun. Tom Shypitka, adding that as far as property devaluation and green-space loss concerns go, “I’d rather put the concerns for the citizens ahead of those issues.”

The approved OCP amendment will enable land use re-designation and consideration of rezoning of the property to provide additional housing and on-site supportive services within the existing Sonja’s Garden neighbourhood, the city’s Engineering and Development Services department stated in a report to council.

Along with proposing to add two new buildings containing 18 new one-bedroom apartment-style units, the applicant intends to renovate three existing buildings to allow CMHAK social services program and administrative spaces to occupy approximately 15% of the site.

For more information on this, go HERE.

Lead image: Mike Gauthier, centre, addresses council after they moved the hearing downstairs at city hall. Ian Cobb/e-KNOW

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