Cold Lake, AB – In March of 2022, the City of Cold Lake entered into an agreement for the Alberta Relief for Shortfalls for Transit Operators (RESTOR), which included a commitment to take steps towards increasing housing supply, density and affordability.

The City utilized the additional $123,632.95 in RESTOR funding to cover the reduced revenue received from special transportation revenue and maintain the Cold Lake Transit’s safe operation through the COVID-19 pandemic.

It has also taken strong steps in support of its vulnerable populations including a number of measures that seek to increase the supply of housing, and the housing density where appropriate. Council also took steps to assist the community’s vulnerable population.

During and post the COVID pandemic, Cold Lake saw a significant increase in the homeless population within the City. To support the vulnerable populations, the City made funding available to the John Howard Society to assist in the completion of a homeless shelter initiative. The shelter is now active and in operation under the Cold Lake John Howard Society. In addition, the City was also able to expedite the approval of a crisis centre and assisted with some financing to improve conditions based on the expected increase of family-based issues which resulted from the health measures implemented due to the COVID pandemic.

Cold Lake also saw an increased need for more affordable housing post the pandemic as people were hit hard by the economic fallout. As part of its review of its Land Use Bylaw, the City of Cold Lake made additional changes that will have a positive impact on the affordability of housing in Cold Lake.

These include reducing the minimum lot size for apartments and multiplex dwellings to encourage further development of multifamily housing. A new West-End Redevelopment Overlay was also created to provide an incentive to start gently increasing housing density in a mature neighbourhood adjacent to the City’s downtown and public transit route.

The City has also made the bylaw easier to navigate and understand, which in turn, streamlines the permit application and review processes. A new online payment portal was launched to allow applicants and developers to submit permit applications and payments online.

In 2021, the City amended its process to allow development permit notices to be posted to the City website, rather than published in the newspaper. This change has reduced the time required to issue discretionary development permits.

All of these provisions go towards supporting all sectors of the City’s populace, plus enhancing development opportunities and accessibility for builders and developers for a growing population that has a strong economic outlook. 

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