The Town of Bashaw council gave initial approval to a bylaw amendment allowing housing in commercial buildings. First reading of the bylaw was passed at the May 20 regular meeting of council.

Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) Theresa Fuller presented councillors with Bylaw 841-2026, an amendment to the Land Use Bylaw (LUB) that would allow for housing such as suites in highway commercial (HC) parcels.

“The applicant has applied for a textual amendment to the LUB to allow for a housing security suite to be added as a discretionary use in the HC district of the LUB,” stated the CAO’s report to council. “While this amendment would apply to the entirety of parcels designated HC, the reason for the proposed change is to allow the applicant to have a legal, compliant, bylaw-conforming dwelling unit within their commercial/industrial building.”

Fuller noted that if the amendment was passed it would permit security suites as a discretionary use; that is, such a suite wouldn’t be automatically approved but would go before the Municipal Planning Commission (MPC) and could be approved with conditions. Security suites in the HC zone are generally used for housing shift personnel who are working or on duty at the site in question.

She noted that staff found examples in other Alberta communities’ LUB documents of these HC suites. As well, the unit in Bashaw, located at 4515-50 Street, currently has such a suite in it which was approved under a previous bylaw.

However, in 2018 changes were approved to Bashaw’s LUB which excluded such suites, but the one in question was effectively “grandfathered.”

“This proposed amendment would legalize the suite as a conforming dwelling within the LUB by allowing the applicant to obtain a development permit for dwelling units as a discretionary use within the HC district,” stated the CAO in her report.

The CAO noted in her report this amendment may not require the usual public engagement other bylaws enjoy, as this amendment’s effect would be quite limited. However, public advertising is still included.

During discussion, the CAO noted the development in question is located at the end of Main Street on the east side. Fuller stated technically this amendment would affect any HC zones within Bashaw and added there are two highway businesses, some Main Street businesses and a few others that would be affected.

It was also noted several times that even if suites are approved under the bylaw, they must meet all building codes and receive all applicable permits.

Coun. Kyle McIntosh observed that the amendment would make the existing suite conforming and ensure that councils in the future wouldn’t have to rely on memory of the suite’s history, including that it initially met a historic bylaw’s requirements.

It was also noted during discussion that permitting the suite will make it much easier for the property owner to sell the development if desired.

Councillors unanimously approved first reading of the bylaw; it will be publicly advertised and return to a future council meeting.