The developer of 5 Loewen Boulevard has been given permission to build right up to the front property line.

5 Loewen Boulevard is located just west of the new strip mall at Loewen and Highway 12. much of the property is currently a storm drain, however, the developer plans to extend the culvert and build over it.

The zoning for that property would normally require a 25-foot front yard setback. However, Developer Mike Fast presented to council at a public hearing and requested to have that reduced to zero so that he could build a larger building and still have enough room for parking.

Councillor Michael Zwaagstra moved to approve the variance.

"In this case here, staff is recommending approval and one of the key reasons for that is directly across the street you have properties that are zoned C2 that are already allowed a zero-foot front yard setback. I believe the information that was presented here shows that that will work with this property as well. It is certainly good to see more development within the city, more commercial and office space so I am looking forward to seeing the development go ahead."

Fast told council he is planning to put up a building similar to the Bell MTS/Schinkel Properties building in Victoria Plaza with retail on the first floor and office space on the second.

Mayor Earl Funk says the owner of Steinbach Chiropractic Clinic opposed the variance noting concerns about parking, joint access agreements, and possible future development. He notes council decided to move forward with the variance despite this.

"Council decided to move forward because the opposition was really based on concerns that could be dealt with by the two property owners that were there. Joint access agreements, we don't get involved in those kinds of things. The issue at hand here was, ‘can this building be at the zero-foot property line in the front?’ And, yes it can."

Councillor Jake Hiebert raised concerns about safety. He noted the sightlines for traffic on Loewen Boulevard and for vehicles entering and exiting the parking lot could be a problem. Funk says he doesn’t feel this will be the case.

"There is a boulevard, there is a sidewalk and then there is a setback from the sidewalk. It is zero feet from the property line, but the property line could be 20 feet from Loewen Boulevard, so it is not right up to Loewen Boulevard. Sightlines will work very well for left and right turns."

Council approved the variance with a 5 to 1 vote with Jake Hiebert voting against the proposal.