Redcliff Council tackles development, budget priorities at October meeting 

Posted on October 23, 2025 by Ryan Dahlman

By Nerissa McNaughton
Southern Alberta Newspapers

Town of Redcliff council met on October 14. Following are some of the key topics:

The adoption of the September 22 minutes highlighted the results of two important hearings and their subsequent decisions.

First was Bylaw No. 1994/2025 to Amend Redcliff Land Use Bylaw No. 1957/2023, which would allow a portion of 1100 Broadway Avenue to be rezoned from Urban Reserve to Commercial, paving the way for future commercial development. The decision aligns with Redcliff’s Eastside Area Structure Plan, which designates the area along Broadway Avenue for commercial use, with single-family residential development planned further south.

During the public hearing, longtime resident Tom Davidson voiced strong opposition to the commercial rezoning. After 30 years in the community, Davidson said he expected residential development in the area but worries that commercial growth will bring “extra lighting at night, more traffic, and crime” to the neighbourhood.

“There are plenty of other empty buildings around Town that businesses can move into without building a bunch of new stuff,” Davidson told council members. “I’m fine with houses, parks, and pathways.”

Despite his concerns, council ultimately carried the move to take the proposal to a second reading. It was noted that while split zoning isn’t ideal planning practice, the proposed change supports the area structure plan’s vision.

In contrast, council defeated a separate proposal (Bylaw No. 1995/2025 to Amend Redcliff Land Use Bylaw No. 1957/2023) to rezone 1080 Highway Avenue from Commercial Highway District to Direct Control District. The application, which had already received a negative recommendation from the Redcliff Municipal Planning Commission in August, drew opposition.

Resident T. Dewalt spoke against the change, expressing fears about increased crime and homelessness.

“We don’t need to be importing drug addicts and homelessness from Medicine Hat or other places,” Dewalt said. “They wander into town and into people’s backyards, and things are disappearing.”

Dewalt’s primary concern centred on the Direct Control designation itself, which would eliminate public appeal rights. Under Direct Control zoning, council gains exclusive authority over development decisions on the property, removing the standard appeals process available under conventional zoning.

“If Council approves something residents don’t like, they can’t appeal it,” Dewalt argued, urging council to maintain the existing zoning category.

Councillor Czember attempted to clarify that rezoning to Direct Control wouldn’t constitute automatic approval of any specific use, but acknowledged Dewalt’s concerns about removing that layer of public oversight. Council ultimately defeated the bylaw.

Moving forward with the October 14 meeting, Redcliff Public Library’s 2026 funding request was addressed. The library is seeking $197,125 – a 2 per cent increase of $3,865 over 2025 levels. The funding will be included in initial budget deliberations for the coming year.

Council also reviewed an expanded list of public submissions for the 2026 capital and operating budgets. Returning projects from previous years include paving portions of 1st Street NE, storm drain installation on 2nd Street SE, and improvements to the Seniors Centre. New submissions for consideration include innovative ideas like planting fruit and nut-bearing trees throughout parks and school grounds, installing pedestrian crosswalk signage at Broadway Avenue and 3rd Street, and reinstating video recordings of council meetings for YouTube. The recording proposal would restore public access to council proceedings through either livestreaming or pre-recorded uploads – a service that has been requested by residents seeking greater transparency in local government.

Council looked at the possible sale of 201 Saskatchewan Drive NE, a vacant lot acquired through tax forfeiture. A recent offer of $110,000 came in below the assessed value of $128,000, but the town’s assessor confirmed the price meets provincial requirements to sell “as close as reasonably possible to market value.” The property would be cleared of any remaining items within 30 days of sale, with unclaimed materials sold to offset relocation costs. Real estate and legal fees will be recovered through the sale proceeds.

Council also did a second and third reading for the Annual Reserve Allocation Bylaw, which seeks to establish ceiling limits for various municipal reserves and formalize the budget framework for ongoing financial planning.

The October meeting highlighted the careful balance council must strike between encouraging economic development and preserving community character. The community’s involvement in these discussions demonstrates that residents are paying attention and want their voices heard.

See the Town of Redcliff website for full meeting details.