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Brock Drive residents try to stop 'land grab' Casey Lessard Northern News Services Published Wednesday, August 31, 2011
Alan Udell pleaded his and wife Adrienne Jones's case at council on Aug. 22 against his neighbour Hendrick Falck's petition to consolidate the land. The dispute revolves around the fact that, Falck, as well as previous owners, has been using the city-owned property for parking. Falck also has a garden and a basketball net on the land. Falck told council he was seeking to consolidate the land only because he was told his property was not in compliance with zoning regulations, and this move would bring him into compliance. He said he and his wife have "not put in any plans for development" of the strip of land, "and don't plan to." Udell protested the sale of the 5.2 metre by 32 metre strip saying it would eliminate access by cutting the right of way in half. City councillor Cory Vanthuyne responded that there would still be 6.8 metres of width for access remaining, a strip almost one metre wider than Ragged Ass Road itself. Udell expressed concern that allowing parking on the corner is unsafe, with neighbour Mike Byrne saying parking on the corner interferes with fire truck access. City administration told council they have no reason to believe this is true, and could not recommend against the sale on this basis. The first and second readings of the bylaw passed unanimously in October 2010. Now that public input is complete, administration will make a recommendation about the sale, and a committee will decide whether to send the bylaw to third reading. If it passes, the city would sell the land at fair market value. The remaining 6.8-metre strip is currently zoned residential, but would be rezoned to nature preserve, protecting a 25-metre wooded trail that leads to Great Slave Lake.
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