ESTEVAN - The dog park that was added to the Kin Hillside Playpark last year remain going forward.
Estevan city council approved retaining the park at its Oct. 24 meeting. The park was initially approved in early June 2021 and opened that fall. Council wanted a one-year trial period before making a final decision about the park’s future.
Land development services manager Richard Neufeld noted that since the park opened, land development received one complaint regarding feces and another regarding noise. The latter caller thought the park was not a safe place for children.
Neufeld also pointed out the parks department did not receive much for negative feedback, other than a call complaining about noise and safety.
“We have found that as predicted, peer pressure has worked,” said Neufeld. “The park is operating on a use-it-properly or lose-it basis.”
There has also been a “great deal of positive feedback” from dog park users, he said.
Members of council said they have not received any negative comments.
There is also an off-leash dog park south of the city at Woodlawn Regional Park.
•••
Council held a special hearing regarding the city’s proposed new zoning bylaw. Nobody stepped forward to comment on the issue.
Neufeld noted the proposed bylaw has been advertised for four weeks and sent to the necessary entities without any inquiries.
There have been a few recommended amendments to the document regarding signage, the West Valley Village development in west Estevan, signs for garage sales and open houses, signs on city-owned property, placement of signs in locations that can become a traffic hazard, and upgrading cell phone towers in the city, among other issues.
Neufeld noted SaskTel is looking to upgrade three towers in residential areas. Cellular towers are allowed in most districts, except for residential, but the technology for the towers has improved greatly in recent years, and he suggested council could still allow the towers to proceed.
The zoning bylaw still needs to receive second and third readings.
