The amended bylaw would stipulate a maximum of five members instead of a minimum of five. Also, if a developer submits an application that warrants a variance to allow for issues such as additional floor space or building height, there could be a 10 per cent variance, which land development services manager Richard Neufeld said is common. The current zoning bylaw does not allow for any variance powers. Should a variance request be in excess of 10 per cent and appear reasonable, the only option would be through the development appeals board. The other bylaw is for a lane closure behind Westview Place. Neufeld said council and administration, along with the adjoining five landowners, have agreed in principle to begin the process of formally closing the laneway, which runs south of Westview Place. The next step is to add the north four metres of the closed laneway to the adjoining lots and the southern two metres of laneway to the adjoining park land.
Darryl Mack and Sylvain Blouin spoke to council at the March 8 meeting, with Mack appearing in council chambers and Blouin speaking via video feed from Edmonton. In a presentation that lasted about 40 minutes, they spoke about the challenges they have faced over the past eight years, and answered questions from council members. “A lot of things that people don’t understand about this city is it’s always been a strong place to do business, and we want to make sure, somehow, we can get this business off the ground,” Mack told council. In a letter to council, Blouin wrote the lots adjacent to their property in the Glen Peterson Industrial Park are now available for $1. They paid $590,105, plus GST, for their parcel.