Temporary win for Riverstone home owners

Riverstone home owners say they are relieved a land use bylaw amendment has been defeated by Lethbridge City Council.

“We bought because of the community, we love all the single family homes here and we really enjoy more of a family environment,” said Riverstone resident Louise Riopel.

The original outline plan for the subdivision had indicated a lot for multi-family housing, leaving room for the construction of 128 townhouse units, or apartments.

After a public hearing was held in September regarding the issue, city administration put forward a new proposal, that would have allowed only 38 units in the area, but it was defeated after a 4-4 tie between city councillors-those opposed, voting in favor of Riverstone home owners.

“I was surprised, that Riverstone was taking the position they were because we’ve clearly indicated there was going to be 128, and when we’ve reduced it to 38, that’s a dramatic reduction but they took the position that they wanted it absolutely no multi-family units,” said Mayor Rajko Dodic.

But residents say their concern wasn’t about the quantity of multi-family homes built.

“I was shocked because I was told that we would never have townhouses in Riverstone, when we bought our house we were told they would never built those in Riverstone so I’m actually not impressed at all,” added Riopel.

The defeated vote means there won’t be any townhouse or apartment units in Riverstone’s near future. Dodic says a tie vote is a temporary win for Riverstone residents opposed to multi-family housing and it’ll be up to the next council to take it from there.

“We’re back at square one now,” said Dodic. “The interesting thing about this is now administration will have to bring it back to council in terms of the bylaw because right now one doesn’t exist.”

For now, a standstill remains until the newly elected council can reach a decision.