Lethbridge city council will meet for a special meeting next week to look at a zoning amendment that could lead to a 30-unit social housing development.
The empty lot at 416 Stafford Drive North is owned by Alberta Social Housing Corporation and Lethbridge Housing Authority (LHA) has applied for a zoning change.
“The applicant wishes to develop a social housing facility with 30 supportive housing units as well as a medical clinic and pharmacy,” reads a city staff report. “As the standard use definition of ‘supportive housing’ in Land Use Bylaw 6300 allows a maximum of 25 units, the parcel must be rezoned to a Direct Control district with a custom use definition which allows 30 units.”
Council will look at first reading of the bylaw on Aug. 29 — It will have to go through three readings before it can be approved. Council is currently on summer break and the proposed amendment is the only item on the special meeting agenda.
The plot of land is currently zoned as general commercial and LHA would need the change to move forward with the proposed project.
“Supportive housing is not an allowable use under the current zoning. Rezoning to a standard land use district which includes supportive housing as an allowable use was considered, but the applicant wishes to provide 30 supportive housing units, and the standard supportive housing use definition in Land Use Bylaw 6300 allows between 8 and 25 units.” the report says.