Proposed flex zone in Rosewood Park sparks concern
Public school division has some issues with the idea, including on-street parking
Usually a neighbourhood is planned before a school is built. In northwest Regina, the opposite has happened.
As planning for the Rosewood Park area moves forward, the Regina Public School Division has some concerns with the area surrounding its new Plainsview School, specifically when it comes to a proposed “flex zone” west of the school.
Mark Whiting — Regina Public’s supervisor of policy, planning and research — detailed those concerns at the most recent school board meeting. The division wants surrounding housing developments to minimize on-street parking near the school site.
It wants to see minimized walking distance for students through the design of streets and walkways.
Further, school division policy objects to non-residential development within 183 metres of a school site. The proposed flex zone is part of a “social hub,” according to the neighbourhood concept plan.
It could include a retirement complex, professional offices, medical facilities and a private recreational facility.
“The purpose of a flex zone is to provide a mixed-use area,” said Shauna Bzdel, director of planning for the City of Regina.
That could include residential, local-commercial, recreational or institutional land uses, according to city zoning.
“Really what it does by identifying a flex zone is it doesn’t specify that it’s only residential,” said Bzdel. “There’s nothing saying there absolutely will be commercial here, but it is an opportunity to possibly have local-commercial as a support if need be.”
If a flex zone is approved, rezoning would still need to happen.
Rosewood Park is the first planned neighbourhood of the longer term Coopertown development, which is planned for a population of about 35,000 people within the next three to four decades.
Rosewood Park is a dream of the Rosewood Park Alliance Church, which has been located on Courtney Street since the early 1980s.
In the 160-acre area to comprise the neighbourhood, there is little development aside from the church and the new joint-use school of Plainsview and the Regina Catholic School Division’s St. Nicholas School.
There is also a SaskTel tower, a waste water lift station, and the bungalow and Quonset of a private property.
The Catholic school division has no concerns with the concept plan at this time.
Bzdel said the development is still in the early feedback stages.
An open house is set for Sept. 26, 5 to 8 p.m. at Rosewood Park Alliance Church, where people can learn about the area and share their feedback and ideas.
Bzdel said the city would consider public feedback as it decides whether to move forward with this concept plan.
According to an Aug. 31 report by Kelowna’s Troika Management Corp., Toronto’s SvN and WSP, this is the third version of the Rosewood Park concept plan report.
Bzdel said it could be a couple of years before construction begins.
“The developer is obviously wanting to pursue further development of the area, and this is the first step,” she said.