NORTH BATTLEFORD - A multi-unit housing development in North Battleford’s Killdeer Park subdivision moved a step towards reality Monday.
City council has accepted an offer from LV Schell Construction Management to purchase 2621, 2623, 2625 and 2627 Sandpiper Rd. for $265,000 plus taxes, with a fully refundable option for the winter months.
This amounts to a little over $4.50 a square foot, which, according to City Planner Ryan Mackrell is in line with other developments, such as the apartment building in Fairview Heights. According to the city’s memo on the subject, local developer and contractor Lyle Schell is interested in building duplex-style multi-unit dwellings in the Killdeer Park subdivision, aimed at working class and seniors’ demographics.
According to Schell’s proposal, the features of the development include sustainability such as high efficiency HVAC and LED lighting, walkable neighbourhoods and housing variety. Streetscape concepts were included in the council package of duplexes and townhouses that could go on the lots.
“We believe demand is high for this type of housing,” Schell stated in correspondence to Mayor David Gillan and council. He pointed out that “a regular topic in any news feed is the shortage of housing right across Canada and with the positive economic growth forecast for Saskatchewan, the call for housing in our province will be escalating.”
The Schell proposal calls for construction slated to start in spring 2023. The construction would happen over a period of two years, said Mackrell, with two lots next year and then two lots in 2024.
Council passed the resolution accepting the purchase of the Sandpiper Road lots unanimously.
Also at the meeting, council passed a resolution authorizing administration to bring in a bylaw change for rezoning of multi-family lots on Sandpiper Road.
This change would allow the multi-unit buildings to be built closer to the road, with the front yard setback reduced from six to three metres.
This is something Mackrell notes is a trend in line with changes in the industry for arterial roadways. This results in larger back yards, but it also brings the building closer to the property lines in front. As a result, it makes the road “feel more narrow and serves as traffic calming for the area,” he said.
Council passed that second resolution as well.
