City Council Recap – April 7

City Council made the following decisions as part of today’s Regular City Council Meeting. 

CONSENT: 

Amendment to Lancaster South Neighbourhood Area Structure Plan (NASP) 
Bylaw and Amendment to Rezone 170 Lancaster Drive  

• City Council approved first reading of an amendment to the Lancaster South Neighbourhood Area Structure Plan (NASP) based on an application to rezone 170 Lancaster Drive from R-D Residential Duplex to Direct Control Zone. Following the approval of first reading of the amendment, a public hearing will be scheduled for May 20, 2025. 

REPORTS: 

Parking Update 

• City administration shared an update on parking following the implementation of the new parking system. In September 2023, The City of Red Deer introduced widespread changes to its parking system downtown with the goal of offering users more options, minimizing physical infrastructure, reducing the amount of coin and utilizing technology and best practices in parking operations. 

• Since implementation, administration has and continues to work with the community to make adjustment based on community feedback. 

• There was no decision to be made by City Council. The report was shared for information only. 

Repeal of Council Policies (Off-Site Levies and Stormwater Management) 

• City Council repealed Council Policy 4312-C Off-Site Levies and Council Policy 4310-C Stormwater Management, as they are covered in the new Off-Site Levy Bylaw.  

BYLAWS: 

Off-Site Levy Bylaw 2nd and 3rd Reading  

• City Council gave second and third reading to the updated Off-Site Levy Bylaw 3730/2025.  

• Off-site levies are charges that developers pay to fund infrastructure (such as roads, and municipal utility systems) when redeveloping existing areas and building new ones.  

• The updates to the bylaw reflect input from engagement with the development community, development trends, growth projections as well as updated and realistic project staging for infrastructure projects that influence the rate.   

• Now with the new bylaw, the average off-site levy rate in 2025 is $164,605 per hectare, down from $204,816 per hectare in 2019. Moving forward, the model will be reviewed annually with the development community.