Airdrie Minute: Merry Christmas, Redevelopment Approved, and Accessory Suites Allowed

Airdrie Minute - Your weekly one-minute summary of Airdrie politics

This Week In Airdrie:

• It’s Christmas on Wednesday. Thank you to every single one of our readers and supporters who reached out, donated, volunteered, or shared our content this year. We appreciate every single one of you and hope you have a wonderful holiday season filled with friends and family. Merry Christmas!
  
  
• We don’t often use these weekly emails to explicitly ask for support, but we’re in the middle of our year-end fundraiser, and we’ve set a goal to raise $5,000 by December 31st. This is a critical time for non-profits, and reaching our goal will ensure we can continue the important work we do. If you value what we bring to the table and want to see us keep going, please consider making a donation today. Every bit helps, and we’re deeply grateful for your support. You can contribute by clicking here. Thank you!
  
  
• There are no Council or Committee meetings this week. Regularly scheduled meetings will resume in the new year.

Last Week In Airdrie:

• Council amended the Land Use Bylaw to simplify the process for developing accessory suites, such as garage, garden, and secondary suites, in various residential areas. The changes make these suites a permitted use in many districts, streamlining approvals without requiring neighbour notifications or appeals, provided all requirements are met. Despite concerns about parking and affordability raised during a public hearing, City officials emphasized that accessory suites are a lower-cost housing option that can help stabilize rent prices as supply increases. Council approved the changes in a 5-2 vote, with further updates on their impact expected in mid-2025.
  
  
• Council unanimously approved the redevelopment of 905 Edmonton Trail Southeast, a site vacant since 2015, into a five-storey mixed-use building with commercial spaces on the ground floor and residential units above. The updated proposal addressed community concerns raised during a public hearing, including expanded parking with 138 stalls and enhanced landscaping to improve privacy for nearby residents. Traffic safety improvements, such as reduced speed limits and enhanced pedestrian lighting, are also planned pending provincial approval. While some residents remain concerned about privacy impacts from the building’s height, Council highlighted the advantages of the new layout over previous zoning options. The project now advances to the development permit stage, where further details will be finalized.
  
  
• The Airdrie Techmation Thunder hockey team spent a day giving back to the community by volunteering at the "Magic of Christmas" event. The team prepared 3,000 stuffed bears for hospitalized children and bundled 230 food boxes for families in need. Head Coach Mark Kulynych emphasized the importance of helping others, especially during the holiday season, and noted that the experience brought the team closer together. He praised the players for their hard work and dedication, highlighting the joy and impact their efforts brought to struggling families. Kulynych also shared that the team’s season, with a 12-11-1 record, exceeded expectations.