A Rimbey businessman’s application for rezoning in order to build a triplex has been turned down by council.
At its Monday meeting, council gave thumbs down to the application by John Peacock.
Peacock’s application for rezoning is for lots on 53rd Ave. east of the Nazarene Church. The 50-foot wide lot which is subdivided for the purpose of building a duplex is zoned R2 (low density residential housing).
Peacock wanted the lot to be rezoned to R3 (medium density residential) so he could construct the triplex which was to consist of two three-bedroom suites and one two-bedroom suite.
“We presently have a number of rental homes in Rimbey and we know that there is historically very few three-bedroom homes for families to rent. This shortage of family sized rentals has been a hindrance for people moving to Rimbey as well as business owners or workers,” he said in his application letter.
The triplex was to be built to look like a two-storey house with a suite on each level.
After some discussion, council agreed to comply with the recommendation by administration to deny the application. They agreed a triplex was not in keeping with the surrounding environment and rezoning the property to medium density residential opened the door for even larger developments.
A suggestion by Liz Armitage, the town’s planner, to rezone the property to direct control was also shot down by council.
Coun. Mathew Jaycox noted parking is dense on that street now.
“I don’t know how public works manages to clear the streets now,” he said.
Rick Schmidt, director of public works agreed it is difficult.
Coun. Paul Payson said council needed to “avoid piecemeal” zoning.