The Big Moo and More Moo are expanding in Sylvan Lake’s lakeshore core.
At their meeting Apr. 8, Sylvan Lake councillors unanimously approved a development permit for a 2,907 square foot (270 square metre) single-storey addition to the More Moo “for additional retail and storage space”.
The addition will be on the south side of the existing building and set back from 44th Street.
The permit also includes reconstruction of the building’s roof and front parapet wall. This will result in an approximate increase in the front façade of seven feet bringing the overall height to 5.8 metres or 19 feet.
“Additional retail traffic is anticipated by the additional building entrance,” stated a report to council from the town’s planning and development department.
Councillor Laverne Asselstine questioned, “is this the way council wants to go with allowing development down there?” He was referring to the fact the developer isn’t required to provide any parking.
“Parking has always been an issue, in the past we always required parking,” Asselstine said. “What happens to the staff that works in the business. They use the parking lot across the street.”
He pointed out that there are two hour parking limits on 50th Street. “Do we expand that to include Lakeshore Drive. I don’t know. It seems to be an issue when you take two-thirds of the property and put a building on it.”
Tim Schmidt, the town’s director of planning and development, told him that under the town’s regulations and Pattern Book there’s no parking required for the commercial or retail use on the main floor. A developer could cover 100 per cent of the lot without providing any parking spaces.
Asselstine continued, “at some time in the future, do we put in parking meters (in the town parking lot)?”
“Maybe, why not,” answered Councillor Ken MacVicar.
“When the spots are taken up by employees, how do we promote turnover of spots?” asked Asselstine.
“There’s a parking problem in every community in this country over a certain size,” said MacVicar. “But there’s a different time to have that discussion. This application came to MPC (Municipal Planning Commission) and it met the requirements. I’m not sure why we’re having this discussion at this time.”
“I don’t see it happening soon,” said Mayor Susan Samson of metered parking. “Redevelopment of Lakeshore is still in its infancy.”
MacVicar again questioned spending time on the parking issue. “On sunny days we have parking problems,” he said estimating that was only about 30 days out of 365.
The development permit application estimated the cost of the project at $100,000 with work to be done prior to the summer season.
Approval of a development permit for an addition to the back of Big Moo (at the corner of 46th Street and Lakeshore Drive) was granted at the Feb. 25 council meeting.
The purpose of this 1,512 square foot (140.5 square metre) addition over two storeys is to provide additional private storage space.
Part of the approval requires the development to have “appropriate regard for the Pattern Book” specifically as it applies to façade treatments and colour schemes.
The development permit application estimated the cost of the project at $100,000.
Asselstine voted against approval of this permit while the rest of council was in favour.