The City of Yorkton is still working toward where best to establish smaller lots to help facilitate development of what it is terming entry level housing.
At the regular meeting of Council Monday one area was taken off the table in response to public concern such development would devalue other properties in the subdivision.
"The 10 lots available in Riverside Meadows Phase II were included as an option in the earlier report. Administration suggests that while these are builder ready for this spring, Council should not consider utilizing any existing single family residential lots in Riverside Meadows Phase II," detailed a report circulated to Council from Gord Shaw, Director of Planning & Engineering with the City.
However three other areas in the City remain viable options, said Shaw.
"The second option involves the multi-family lots west of Whitesand Drive. There are potentially seven lots that could be further subdivided to accommodate different forms of multi-family. Depending upon the type of multi-family dwelling selected, an additional service will be required for each lot ($4,000 each) and subdivision costs," said the report.
A third option is the former C.J. Houston School property.
"The remaining portion of the C.J. Houston property could accommodate entry level homes. Administration recommends a cul-de-sac option. Administration expects that eleven lots could be created on this property with this arrangement. This would allow for all lots to have a rear detached garage. A new land use district is required for the narrower lots and reduced setback requirements," stated the report.
The final possibility would open a new area to housing.
"The fourth option is the partial development of the City's land holdings east of the SGI building on York Road. A portion of this area could be developed. Services are available on York Road which allows the City to keep costs down on this portion of the development."
Shaw said the four options all have merit.
"Staff is in the opinion that all options are viable and allows the City to address both single-family residential as well as multi-family. Bringing the multi-family on stream is somewhat easier compared to the single-family because it involves adding services to each lot," he said. "All three options are dependent on the weather as well as availability of construction companies."
Funding of each of these options will need to be reviewed with the Finance Department.
"Although preliminary discussions have occurred, the approach on how to finance these developments will need to be crystallized with that department," said Shaw.
