City to review servicing before plan approval

Questions over work in Elk Point

A Saskatoon city council committee has endorsed the idea of reviewing how the city’s land development branch began lot servicing work in a neighbourhood before the official plan for it was approved.

Mayor Charlie Clark and several city councillors expressed frustration on Tuesday with a report from the city administration that tried to explain how work began in the proposed Elk Point neighbourhood before the official plan was approved.

The report said the work in Elk Point was necessary to accommodate growth in the adjacent Kensington neighbourhood, and that council gave technical approval to the strategy by approving Saskatoon Land’s 2013 budget.

Clark was among those who questioned Saskatoon Land director Frank Long about the situation and the report. “I think we need to hold ourselves to the highest possible standard when it comes to the approval process,” Clark said.

Questions arose at a committee meeting in May about the official plan for Elk Point, which is being planned by Saskatoon Land and a private developer, Dream Development.

Among other concerns, councillors noted work had begun in the area earmarked for the new neighbourhood before the plan had been approved. As with the May committee meeting, councillors who do not sit on the committee attended Tuesday’s meeting to express their concerns.

Long acknowledged that even though the work received funding approval, it did not get planning approval. He said the situation was “very unique” and the city was experiencing “significant growth” that has since slowed.

Long suggested council should have known what Saskatoon Land was doing when it approved the official plan for the Kensington neighbourhood. “Sometimes our planning approval process moves a little slower than it needs to.”

Coun. Sarina Gersher said she understands there was a lot of growth earlier this decade, but she’s “really frustrated” by the situation.

Coun. Randy Donauer said he appreciates the pressure Saskatoon Land faces to make sure enough lots are available and has attended meetings where concern is expressed about lot inventory.

However, he added, “I was actually surprised to see that this was technically in a budget.”

Clark noted city council considers 2,000 pages of material at budget time, but added that he accepts responsibility. Clark got support of the seven councillors present on Tuesday to direct an auditor to review the Elk Point situation.

“We’re talking about probably millions of dollars of servicing,” Clark said.

The report noted Saskatoon grew by 47,233 people from 2009 to 2015. The design of wetlands in Elk Point complies with the city’s wetland policy, it adds.

However, Clark took issue, with part of the report that noted the initial design of Elk Point began in 2011, two years before council adopted its wetlands policy. Clark pointed out construction of some wetlands did not begin until 2015.

Randy Grauer, the city’s general manager of community services, which includes Saskatoon Land, accepted responsibility for the situation alongside Long.

Coun. Mairin Loewen expressed concern that the situation could happen again, since housing demand continually fluctuates.