Construction has started on an office complex for the MN—S in the West Hill area near the Alfred Jenkins. MN—S also wants to develop small townhouses that would be sold on a rent-to-own basis. (Susan McNeil/paNOW Staff)

By Susan McNeil

Small housing development

City of P.A. begins foray into smaller housing with Métis Nation development

Jul 30, 2024 | 5:00 PM

A new style of housing has made its first steps into the Prince Albert residential market thanks to a re-zoning application from the Métis Nation—Saskatchewan.

The MN—S began construction of its new service centre just south of the Alfred Jenkins Field House, but to the west of that they want to build what are essentially tiny homes connected as townhouses. To do that, the city needed to allow six-metre wide lots for townhouses to be purchased, rather than just available for rent.

“I don’t see that affecting other R4 (high-density residential) lots significantly,” said Director of Planning Craig Guidinger. “If anything, it helps bolster development. Townhouses are already allowed throughout the city, but individual ownership at six meters wide is not.”

MN—S wants to build the small townhouses and then sell them as a rent-to-own project. Making this allowable in the zoning means people will be able to own smaller town houses in any place zoned R4.

The Alfred Jenkins Field House is directly to the north of 28th Street. (screenshot/City of PA agenda)

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“If anything, this is another form of housing that some of our entry level housing owners can get into without renting,” Guidinger said.

The idea is to transition people from renting to owning.

Planning and Development wants to keep the street townhouse use as discretionary, meaning that planned projects will get more scrutiny and likely more conditions.

The city will also be able to monitor the impacts of higher density usage because R4 is zoning is only allowed in Midtown, part of the East Hill and a few other large parcels around the community.

“Once administration can review the impacts of this form of development over time on existing infrastructure and neighbourhoods, the use may be included in other zoning districts,” said Guidinger in the written part of the memo to council.

Right now, the area in question is full of trees and dirt and nothing else so MN—S will also need to upfront the costs of infrastructure such as streets.

Development plans for that area are ambitious. MN—S hopes to build four or five streets of the townhouses.

A depiction of what the townhouses could look like. (screenshot/City of PA agenda)

Guidinger said the plan is for “a large swath of medium density housing” and possibly some other commercial developments.

The city has set conditions to include a maximum of four units per building and a lot that is no smaller than six metres. Currently, 10 metres is required.

Allowing the smaller lots also takes into account the two middle units in a four-unit development.

While this is the first request of this type to come before city council, other jurisdictions have allowed the developments.

Before the changes are finalized, there will be public notice and a chance for other residents to weigh in.

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susan.mcneil@pattisonmedia.com