I hope you're well and finding ways to stay cool in this hot July heat. The City has some tips to stay cool. Consider checking them out and sharing them with a friend, neighbour, or family member.

City Council meets on Wednesday next week. Several items on the public hearing (evening) agenda may be of interest, including the rezoning proposals to allow redevelopment of the Bus Barns in South Caswell Hill, and consideration of reducing or eliminating off-street parking minimums for development in alignment with the Housing Accelerator Fund. 

The regular business meeting (daytime) also has a report that will seek Council's confirmation of the proposed branding and name - "Link" - for the Bus Rapid Transit system. Construction is set to begin this season on this project that will transform our Transit system!

Housing Accelerator Fund

June decisions
Following the June 27/27th Public Hearing Meeting, City Council approved amendments to the Official Community Plan (OCP) and Zoning Bylaw to meet the commitments under the Housing Accelerator Fund (HAF) application. The approved amendments include: 

• Permitting up to four dwelling units per site in all residential zoning districts 
• Permitting multiple unit dwellings in the Transit Development Area (approximately an 800m distance or 10-minute walk from Bus Rapid Transit Stations)   
• Streamlining zoning regulations for Residential Care Homes (up to 15 people) 

The decision was made after an 18-hr Public Hearing. Sixty-six spoke to Council and 391 residents submitted comments. Thank you to all who took time to write, call and meet with me ahead of that debate. The ideas, concerns, questions, priorities and opportunities you raised informed my participation in that meeting. 

I know that there remains uncertainty about how these land use permission changes will play out across the city, and there's no way to know for sure. We do expect change to be gradual, and I feel strongly that there is room for some refinement, and am working to support such opportunities. Council has asked for reporting back about a timeline on which some refinements might be considered, specifically including the application of the Corridor Mixed Use (CMU) district. 

Full details on Housing Accelerator Action Plan can be found here on the City's website. 
A walk through of the proposals and focus on Ward 2 maps can be found in the video on my blog which was published before the meetings.

Parking decision - Wednesday
Administration has prepared the proposal - requested by Council - to remove the minimum off-street parking requirements for most types of development. This change will be considered on Wednesday, and is aligned to the Housing Accelerator Fund action plan and fund requirements. The baseline requirements are to reduce minimums, so removing them would be one step further. Council can choose to proceed with removal or pivot to consider reduction instead. 

Removing minimum parking requirements for development (often referred to as open option parking) does not mean that no parking would be built. Rather, it means that the developer, homeowner or business would decide how much parking should be provided based on market knowledge. Further, requirements would remain for accessible and bicycle parking stalls, and loading zones (some expansion of where this requirement would be applied is proposed). Click here to read more about the considerations related to open option parking. 

If you have feedback to share, please reach out by Wednesday. If you'd like to write to Council about this, please do so by Monday at 5pm here. Since the item is at a public hearing, anyone attending the meeting will be permitted to speak.

Rezoning proposals

South Caswell Bus Barns 
1. Rezoning - 321 Ave C N (Caswell Hill Bus Barns north site) - 1L1 to MX1 (agreement)
This proposal would rezone the north portion of the bus barns site to MX1 by agreement to permit the development designed by the proponent CBB Group. The proposal is for adaptive reuse of the former Transit maintenance building (for variety of commercial, restaurant and community uses) and for new residential and office development in the parking lot and bus storage area. 

2. Rezoning - 301 24th St W, 230, 232, & 240 Ave C N, ROW (Caswell Hill Bus Barns south site) - 1L1 to MX1
This proposal would enable future sale and redevelopment of the south half of the site and allow a mix of uses 3-6 storeys in height. The City would use a similar process as the process used for the North site to see the south half redeveloped and the community-involved plans for South Caswell would continue to guide the priorities here.

Station Mixed Use 
Several sites along several corridors are being brought forward to be rezoned to Station Mixed Use (some also require OCP amendments) in alignment with Corridor Planning efforts. Some of these sites border Ward 2 such as properties on the 1200 block of Idylwyld and some on Minto Place.

Other Updates

Respect for Transit employees
Saskatoon Transit and Amalgamated Transit Union Local 615 released videos featuring frontline employees sharing their experience working in public transit and a message for residents and customers. When people watch their stories, we hope they will recognize them as individuals who deserve empathy and respect so they can do their jobs and get home safely at the end of their day.  

City Council | July 31st

City Council meets on Wednesday. Brief highlights are outlined below. Click here to find the full agendas. Correspondence on Council items can be made in writing or as a request to speak (accommodated by phone or in person). Meetings are live streamed.

Regular Business Meeting  |  9:30 AM
  - Bus Rapid Transit - Wayfinding & Marketing
  - Changes to Drone Process for permission
  - Appointments - various
  - Downtown Entertainment District - updated timing
  - Fire Uniforms - budget adjustment
  - Adaptation in Action program - FCM
  - Bylaws
   - Traffic Amendment bylaw - speed limits on Dudley bikeway & Wiggins
   - Vehicles for Hire bylaw - taxi fares
   - Code of Ethical conduct - overlap amendments 
  - Motions
    - Donauer : Urban Wildlife best practices
    - Donauer : Feeding of wildlife

Public Hearing Meeting  |  6:00 PM
  - Rezoning - 321 Ave C N (Caswell Hill Bus Barns north site) - 1L1 to MX1 (agreement)
  - Rezoning - 301 24th St W, 230, 232, & 240 Ave C N, ROW (Caswell Hill Bus Barns south site) - 1L1 to MX1
  - Rosewood Concept Plan amendment
  - OCP Amendment - Rosewood Plan
  - Rezoning - Zimmerman Rd Rosewood
  - Brighton Concept Plan amendment
  - Rezoning FUD to RMTN - Brighton
  - Blairmore sector plan Amendment
  - (HAF) Zoning bylaw amendment to remove Minimum Parking Requirements
  - OCP Amendment - Minto Pl, 1232-1236 Idylwyld Dr - Station Mixed Use
  - Rezonings - Minto Pl, 1232-1236 Idylwyld Dr, various College Dr, some 8th Street - CS1 District
  - Proclamations & Flag Raisings