ESTEVAN - Estevan city council heard an appeal during the April 7 meeting from a local woman about a proposed development on Drader Street in the northern part of the city.
Wanda Michel, who lives on the street, appeared before council during a public hearing. She told council she received notice about the proposal to create the three lots in her area, including one on the south side of the street adjacent to her property.
"For the past 25 years, my family has been the ones who have maintained that property – cutting the grass, controlling the weeds … planting the trees, which we did get permission to do, and have spent thousands of dollars each year," said Michel.
She said she spoke with land development services Richard Neufeld a month and a half ago regarding her concerns, and she said she was told the city had already entered into an agreement in principle for the sale of the property.
Michel went on to say she and her husband approached the city to purchase the vacant lot more than a decade ago. They went before the city council of the day and their request was denied, as the property was needed for drainage and they were told the city would never sell it.
"Now I am told that a random citizen approached the city to zone it and sell it to them, and it is being done without any regard of our previous requests or consideration for drainage needs," she said.
She believes her family's previous request should be the one entertained by council. Michel asked for a written response by council and next steps to be taken by April 14 so she can share it with her legal counsel.
At the time of the prior request, Michel said they had put considerable expense into the property. When asked by Coun. Dave Elliott if Michel has seen anyone from the city on the property to ensure proper drainage, she replied there was a natural drain at the back of the property.
Coun. Shelly Veroba said Michel is the first person that she knows of who wanted to purchase property there since Veroba joined council.
Coun. Brian Johnson, who was on council at the time of the Michels' request, wanted to know if she still had the letter from the city. Michel said she did, but she didn't bring it.
"When I spoke with Mr. Neufeld, he said that your [the city's] records would indicate … this was brought to council, and his predecessor kept pretty good records."
Johnson said he couldn't recall the Michels' request.
City manager Jeff Ward, who has been in the role since 2015, said he would have to go through the request, and he knows of another property owner who made a similar request more than a decade ago.
Coun. Kirsten Walliser wanted to know why the Michels were interested. At the time, she said they wanted to create a green space. They made it clear they didn't intend to build something at the site.
Land development services manager Richard Neufeld said he didn't receive written objections about the subdivision itself, but added he was made aware of Michel's concerns.
Council tabled second and third readings of the subdivision request.
In his report to council, Neufeld wrote the city is commencing with the intent to create three additional residential properties on the east portion of Drader Street in north Estevan. The property is undeveloped and part of a larger parcel of land approximately 31 hectares in area. The land to be subdivided is generally flat with a small ridge that borders the eastern boundary of the proposed lots. The property is used by area landowners for parking utility trailers.
Each property would be .17 hectares (.4 acres) in area with a minimum 30-metre frontage.
He wrote land development received some landowner inquiries for the proposed subdivision, but none were objections. Questions related to potential impacts on surrounding agricultural land, how the three lots would be sold, and if Drader Street would become a hard surface.
City engineering has recommended that sanitary services be extended to service the three proposed lots. Water supply may not require an extension.
As part of the subdivision, the city is looking at closing the northmost two metres of road allowance within the proposed subdivision that comprises the new lots.
The result will provide a uniform 20 metres along the entire street. The land within the closed roadway would be included within the proposed subdivision.
Land development received two in-person inquiries regarding the proposed road closure from people who thought the intent was to close Drader Street in its entirety.
"Once the meaning of the proposed road closure was explained, the issue was of no concern," Neufeld wrote.
The proposed road closure would not take effect until the proposed subdivision is registered at Saskatchewan land titles.
