Barrhead town council unanimously gave second and third readings to a land use bylaw, which would allow a developer to convert a former church into a residential dwelling.
On Tuesday, Dec. 8, before their regular meeting, town council listened to a presentation given by Rick Hofsink on his application to convert the old Canadian Reformed Church building on the corner of 47 St. and 52 Ave. into a four-plex.
Cheryl Callihoo, Barrhead’s director of Planning and Development, started the discussion on the bylaw by asking Hofsink how he planned to address parking concerns, snow removal and garbage pickup.
Hofsink said there is enough space on the east side of the building to satisfy the town’s parking requirements. On the east side of the building the plans include six angled parking slots, adding on the west side there would be room for an additional two parking spots.
According to town regulations, Callihoo said, an application such as Hofsink’s is required to have six parking spots.
Similarly he said there was also sufficient room on the north side of the building to accommodate snow removal and an area on the south side of the building has been set aside for garbage and recycle bins.
Coun. Leslie Penny asked if his plan would change the building’s exterior dimensions.
“I am assuming what is going to happen here is similar what happened with the Church of the Nazarene where the footprint of the building will stay the same,” she said. “You are not tearing down the building and starting again, you are building from within.”
Hofsink said the foundation and the exterior walls would stay the same.
Coun. Roy Ulmer enquired what would happen to the front step of the old church, and if residents would have to enter their suites by using the stairs.
Hofsink said each of the four suites would have a separate entrance.
“The entrance on the front steps will be for one suite, the door on the north end will be for the second suite and the door that is currently on the east end would be dedicated to the basement suite,” he said, adding an additional door would be added on the east side of the building for the remaining apartment.
Mayor Gerry St. Pierre said the only concern he had with Hofsink’s plan was about the angle parking on the east side of the building.
“With angle parking wouldn’t the sixth vehicle on the far end of the lot have to back all the way down the laneway before being able to access the street?” he asked.
Hofsink responded saying it would be the same for all the people who have driveways. “They all have to back out.”
Coun. Ty Assaf questioned if the two extra parking spots on the west side of the building were necessary.
“I don’t have a question with the six parking stalls, but I am concerned about the safety implications for people going into the building on that one (west side) and having those two parking spots right on the corner,” he said. “The requirements are for six stalls so let’s not worry about the two extra spots.”
Coun. Ryan Warehime concluded the open house saying he was pleased to see the old church building would be put to good use.
“It’s nice to see a building like this be repurposed and not just torn down,” he said.
Council unanimously gave first reading to a bylaw, which would rezone 5111-49 St. from C2, Highway commercial to RW (Residential Live/Work).
Callihoo said this would allow the applicant to have a basement suite as well as a commercial business in their house.
Warehime said he was in favour of the application.
“Although I don’t want to see these types of amendments happening all over our community, I think this one is a good fit being along the highway and that it’s a commercial area,” he said.
St. Pierre asked what the procedure would be for a similar RW application.
Callihoo said usually an application would first go to the Municipal Planning Commission for review and discussion.
“So we won’t be doing spot rezoning on a constant basis,” she said.
Council set a public hearing date for Jan. 12 at 5:30 p.m. in the council chambers.
