Council Approves $4.7M Material Recovery Center Expansion, Land Sale for Community Hub
Saskatoon City Council advanced major infrastructure spending and land use changes during its June 24 meetings, including a nearly $4.7-million expansion of the Material Recovery Center and the sale of city land for a community hub. The council also moved forward with a new transit bylaw governing animals on buses and approved flood-control work at a busy intersection.
$4.7M recycling facility expansion
In its regular business meeting, council voted 11-0 to approve the Material Recovery Center expansion with a budget of $4,709,300. The project will increase the facility’s capacity to process recyclable materials. No further details on scope or timeline were released in the meeting minutes.
Land sale for Elmwood Community Hub
During a public hearing meeting, council authorized the sale of city land for the Elmwood Community Hub-Homebase project in a unanimous 10-0 vote. The decision paves the way for development of a community services hub. All councillors were present except Councillor Davies; Councillor Parker excused herself during the proceedings.
Rezoning approvals
The same public hearing meeting saw council pass three rezoning bylaws, each by a 10-0 vote:
- Bylaw 10191: Traeger Manor rezoning
- Bylaw 10192: 400 Block Cowessess Terrace rezoning
- Bylaw 10193: Cowessess Road/Brighton Boulevard rezoning
Transit bylaw: animals must be kenneled
Council directed the city solicitor to draft a new Saskatoon Transit Bylaw that will require all animals on buses to be kenneled, with an exception for service animals. An amendment to also remove regulations concerning unaccompanied children was defeated 4-7. The final bylaw will return to council for a vote after drafting.
Flood control at 46th and 1st
The 11-0 vote approved the ninth project in the city’s Flood Control Strategy, targeting the intersection of 46th Street and 1st Avenue. The design and cost were not specified in the minutes.
Research partnership on green infrastructure
Council unanimously backed participation in a Carthy Foundation research partnership focused on urban green infrastructure. The vote was 11-0.
Other city board actions
- **SAAC subcommittee**: The Saskatoon Accessibility Advisory Committee formed a five-member subcommittee to review Bus Rapid Transit concept changes on 1st Avenue. Members Amanda Titman, Robert Gourley, Steven Schneider, Adeola Fadakinte, and Darren Gilchrist will meet or submit comments in July. The committee also received information reports on construction site accessibility and on-street accessible parking policy amendments.
- **Zoning text amendments**: The Municipal Planning Commission forwarded recommended changes to Zoning Bylaw No. 9990—concerning sidewall area and door sill height for primary dwellings in established neighbourhoods—to city council for final decision. The Saskatoon & Region Home Builders’ Association participated in the discussion.
- **Development Appeals Board**: The board held a re-hearing of a contravention order at 508 Dufferin Avenue due to a procedural error, and heard an appeal of a minor variance at 823 Brighton Boulevard. Minutes are not yet published.
- **Board of Revision**: Hearings took place or are scheduled on multiple commercial property assessment appeals, including properties on 33rd Street East, 48th Street East, 8th Street East, Idylwyld Service Road, Primrose Drive, Attridge Drive, and 21st Street East. No residential appeals were filed.
Coming up
No city meetings were listed as being scheduled over the next two weeks as of July 5.
Generated from official meeting agendas and minutes — every underlying document is linked from the city page. Read the primary source before you rely on a detail.