REGINA – A new section of a northwest Regina development has received the go-ahead, even though it goes against the recommendation of city staff.
Rosewood Park is a 20 hectare section of the much larger Coopertown development, which hasn’t been officially approved and isn’t slated for immediate development.
The community would be home to 1,000 residents in affordable or subsidized housing and a large seniors complex.
The city’s executive committee had ignored the advice of administration, which had brought forward concerns about Rosewood Park being isolated because of its relatively small size and a lack of transit service.
Mayor Michael Fougere believes the community would still meet Regina’s development goals.
“Keep in mind, most developments that happen, like Harbour Landing, are never complete communities when they first start out. They’re smaller and they grow as time goes on,” Fougere said.
“This will not be an isolated area. It’s actually quite close to existing developments just across the street.”
Ward 10 councillor Jerry Flegel echoed Fougere’s comments, saying, “we don’t have many complete communities outside Ring Road.”
One of two councillors to vote against the project, Ward 3’s Shawn Fraser, said he doesn’t think the small size of Rosewood Park fits with city council’s interim phasing and financing plan.
“It might be the right development, but it’s not the right time or the right place,” said Fraser.
A longtime proponent of the project, Rosewood Park Alliance Church, has agreed to several conditions including a plan to cover costs of upgrading infrastructure in the area.
(Services like) wastewater and roads, usually the city pays for large services extended to the perimeter of a new development. In this case, those large services are already there,” said Jason Petrunia, who represents Planning Alliance as a consultant for the church. “Where they’re not, we’re supplying the shortfall.”
“We’re paying for those without the expectation we’ll be paid back.”
Representatives told council the church would provide monthly and down payment assistance worth as much as $30,000 per homeowner over a 10 year span as part of Rosewood Park’s affordability initiative.
The developer said Tuesday’s approval would allow for residents to begin moving into homes by 2016.
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