(Aaron Schulze/northeastNOW Staff)

By Mat Barrett

Creekside Acres

‘We are very happy’: Creekside subdivision defeated by Melfort Council

Apr 16, 2019 | 9:22 AM

Residents of Creekside Acres in Melfort shouldn’t expect a subdivision in their neighbourhood anytime soon.

At the City of Melfort’s Regular Council Meeting on April 15, council defeated three bylaws related to subdividing the area.

The developer of the area had wanted to subdivide some vacant lots in the area. Residents were very much against the idea saying that it would take away from the ‘acreage living’ they were promised when they purchased their lots. As a result, the developer had then wanted to use some dedicated land in the area to make the lots bigger when they were subdivided. Residents were still against it, and council finally made their decision on the situation at the meeting.

The first bylaw was to sell the dedicated lands to the developer. That was defeated unanimously. Next came the bylaw to amend the zoning bylaw to allow for those dedicated lands to be used for residential purposes. Because this bylaw hinged on the previous one, it was also defeated unanimously. The final bylaw was for a proposed subdivision. That was ultimately defeated as well as a result of the previous bylaws being defeated. Mayor Rick Lang said a major part of them defeated the bylaws was precedent setting, and the fact that the city was not to receive any compensation for the dedicated lands.

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“The resolution as it came to council was for zero compensation,” Lang said. “Although there could have been an amendment proposed, but it wasn’t proposed, to get some reimbursement for that land. But, the reality is, that it’s never been done before, and we are always hesitant to do that, unless there is an exceptional reason to do so.”

Resident Lydia Steffan said on behalf of the community, they are very pleased.

“We are very happy,” Steffan told northeastNOW. “So, as a community, the Creekside Community is very happy with this decision from council.”

Not only were residents opposed to the subdivision because of the ‘acreage living’ they were promised, some were also worried that the subdivision may even lower the value of some of their homes.

“I think the big thing and the message that we wanted to relay was that we purchased a certain type of lot in a certain type of community, and felt strongly that promised should be upheld, and wanted councils assistance,” Steffan said. “And I think we got it.”

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mat.barrett@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @matbarrett6