MOOSE JAW — A building that once functioned as a residence before being converted into a restaurant is now being re-converted into a residence after the business closed several years ago.
During its Aug. 12 regular meeting, city council unanimously approved a discretionary use application for a one-unit dwelling at 360 Fairford Street East. This property is in the R4 core-mixed residential district, where one-unit dwellings are considered discretionary uses.
City administration received a discretionary use application from the owner on July 16 to change the building’s use from a café to a one-unit dwelling, a council report explained.
The same structure previously functioned as a one-unit dwelling until 2020, when the owner converted it into a restaurant. City hall issued a permit for this change on Sept. 30, 2020, with occupancy granted on Dec. 7, 2020.
“City administration does not have any prior record of a discretionary use approval for a one-unit dwelling on the site prior to 2020,” the report said. “However, even if such an approval had existed, it would have expired after one year of the use no longer being present.”
The zoning bylaw says that if an approved discretionary use or form of development “ceases to operate for a period of one year or more,” the discretionary use approval is no longer valid, the document continued. Therefore, a new discretionary use approval is required for this proposed change of use.
The surrounding residential area includes R4 and R3 districts intended for higher-intensity uses, although one-unit dwellings are also common, the report said. East of Fourth Avenue Northeast, the neighbourhood is mainly comprised of similar dwellings in the R1 district.
City administration did not expect the developer to make too many exterior changes to the building since it was constructed as a home, while any changes would not be noticeable from the outside. Also, since the building was no longer a restaurant, it would have fewer vehicle trips, noise, and related activities.
Michelle Sanson, director of planning and development, told council that city administration had no issues with this project, while the building should have fewer negative effects on the neighbours. Also, that area had been zoned R4 since 1979, so — based on the building originally being a one-unit dwelling — she didn’t know when the city changed that zoning designation.
The next regular council meeting is Monday, Aug. 26.
