Westlock Town council passed their consolidated land use bylaw after a public hearing at their latest meeting on June 9.
The amended bylaw aims to address barriers to housing development within the town as part of the Housing Action Plan which was approved by council in 2023. The goal of the amendments is to enable a broader mix of housing types, improve affordability, reduce development barriers and make it easier to renew or redevelop older housing.
The town’s housing needs assessment in 2023 found that 72 per cent of households in the town were one to two people in size, yet 68 per cent of housing was single detached homes, reflecting a misalignment with the town’s demographics. The assessment also found that 24 per cent of households spend over 30 per cent of their income on shelter and seven per cent of the town’s housing required major repairs.
The amendments include clarifying definitions and distinctions between different housing types, changing the maximum number of dwellings per lot width to allow for greater density, introducing infill development provisions to guide new housing designs, introducing parking requirements to address parking for multi-unit housing, and site-specific rezoning of some properties in the town.
No members of the public offered feedback during the public hearing.
Councillors Murtaza Jamaly and David Truckey advised a pause on the bylaw’s passing due to its sweeping nature, but it was eventually passed.
“We put the ask out and haven't received any written submissions, haven't had any input at our public hearing and have had lots of input from those who are affected already just by reaching out to our builders and developers,” said mayor Jon Kramer. “These are things that our builders and developers have been asking for so I think urgency maybe isn't the right word, but it's building season. It's time to sell some lots and to put some shovels in the ground.”
Housing development is beginning to get underway throughout the town. The first lot was recently sold in the Southview subdivision as part of the Southview development project originally approved in July 2024.
The lot is located at the intersection of 93 Street and 99 Avenue near the Westlock Healthcare Centre and Highway 44. There are still 17 lots for sale in the area ranging in price from $121,300 to $156,800 and ranging in size from 52 feet wide and 110 feet deep to 55 feet wide and 134 feet deep. Each lot is zoned as an R1, or a single-family home.
Other new properties to help address housing needs include a $2.5 million rental property planned to be developed at 9819 105 St. along Highway 18 which will include four three-bedroom and four one-bedroom units.
The town has also approved an area structure plan for the community of Aspendale to incentivize development in the area. An open house at the Rotary Spirit Centre will be hosted on June 18 where members of the public and landowners will have the opportunity to give feedback on the plan.
