(file photo/paNOW)

By Susan McNeil

City hall

City allows 4 plexes in all residential zones

Nov 17, 2025 | 8:04 PM

With no opposition in the public hearing and the need to apply for funding for upgrades to the waste water treatment system immediately, Prince Albert city council passed two important motions in their Monday meeting.

The first was to allow four plexes as a right on all residential-zoned properties in the city, a move staff said was needed in order to apply for waste water grant funding from the federal government.

Planning staff said they took care to ensure that all residents were informed about the public hearing into the bylaw allowing the change and had a non-profit group deliver 11,000 flyers around the city. They also made a video at council’s suggestion and posted it to their website.

Councillor Stephen Ring, who is also a property appraiser, said he fully supports the change.

“There is a duplex on Hadley Road right now,” he said. “I’d like to see if anyone could identify it.”

Gradual warming trend next week

Snow squall watch in effect; March not coming in like a lion this year

1h ago

Crime prevention

Prince Albert police report spike in vehicle thefts

2h ago

Box cutter weapon

Man charged with aggravated assault that occurred in Cornerstone area

3h ago

Hadley Road is in one of the city’s newest neighbourhoods and has larger homes.

READ MORE: City moves forward with zoning changes

When Community Services staff first put forward the changes, they said that just because four plexes are allowed now where they would not have been before, doesn’t mean they will automatically be built.

Zoning regulations will still apply, which include requirements for a certain amount of parking stalls and restrict buildings to a maximum of 50 per cent of the lot. That would mean that a four plex would not fit on a smaller lot, such as are found in newer neighbourhoods.

Councillors Brown and Laewetz voted against the change but third reading of the bylaw passed.

The second item approved was connected because the federal government requires the four plex allowance before they give grant money for infrastructure, including the wastewater plant.

Brown was again opposed, and said he didn’t like the federal government making the city do changes in order to get funding.

Asked what would happen if they just did not proceed, Public Works manager Jeff da Silva, said that the plant would just deteriorate more and cost more money to fix in the end.

“Upgrades to the wastewater treatment plant are very necessary,” he said. “Its a very strong recommendation to proceed.”

Other councillors agreed and the motion passed. The deadline to apply for the grant that could get the city around $37 million towards the cost of the upgrade is in a matter of weeks.

“It’s irresponsible to not take the money for the betterment of our community,” said Coun. Darren Solomon.

—

susan.mcneil@pattisonmedia.com