Council approves liquor store in Cathedral area, closure of Osler Street near RPS headquarters

Regina city council has cleared the way for a new Sobeys liquor store to go up in the city’s Cathedral neighbourhood.

Council voted Wednesday in favour of approving the discretionary use application for the project by a vote of 10-1. Ward 3 Coun. Andrew Stevens was the only one who voted against the application.

The store, which is set to go up on the corner of 13th Avenue and Retallack Street, was one that drew both criticism and support from members in the community.

Stevens said there are valid concerns around the social harm due to the project, but also said there needs to be consideration surrounding the use of underutilized land.

While there were two approved projects for the area, neither was completed. A fire in the ’90s destroyed the buildings that used to occupy the area.

A number of residents in the area were opposed to the Sobeys project, citing traffic concerns and the fact the building’s design lacked the creativity of other buildings in the area.

Others worried about the presence of alcohol sales in the area, believing a liquor store could contribute to social ills.

Administration was directed to conduct a social impact study. They found some studies that drew a relationship between crime, addiction and alcohol sales. But that came with the caveat that those observations wouldn’t necessarily be replicated here.

“There’s no conclusive evidence that there’s any worse issues that happen when you have a liquor store in the community,” Mayor Michael Fougere said during the Greg Morgan Morning Show on Thursday.

Phil Busby, the Sobeys Capital Incorporated director of national development, said the project will take the vacant site and make use of it, which would be a good thing.

He also said Sobeys Liquor works with local breweries and distilleries to help give them a place to sell and advertise their products.

The mayor agreed the store would be a good addition to the area.

“This land has been vacant for 20-plus years. There have been a couple of attempts to build something, then fallen through,” said Fougere.

“This will fill that gap literally in the streetscape and will provide another attraction for people to come in and buy not just liquor at that store, but go to the grocery store and other stores along 13th Avenue and support that area down there.”

Osler Street outside of RPS building to close

Council also voted to eventually close Osler Street between Saskatchewan Drive and 11th Avenue.

The street closure will come as a part of the Regina Police Service’s redesign of its headquarters. Work will be done to create a larger headquarters that will expand its current location into the building that previously was occupied by the Saskatchewan Transportation Company across the street.

There is no timeline on the project but public consultation on the project could be done in June or July.

Stevens was the only councillor to vote against the closure of the street.

Plastic bag ban bylaw to be drafted

Council also voted in favour of drafting a bylaw that would ban businesses from selling or using plastic bags.

The recommendation, brought forward by Ward 2 Coun. Bob Hawkins, said jurisdictions in Canada and the U.S. have already done a ban with exemptions in place.

Hawkins said there could be a 12-month period given to businesses before enforcement of the bylaw would take place so education can be shared and businesses can transition away from plastic bags.

City administration said once a bylaw has been drafted, there will be a discussion about a communication plan.

The recommendation for city administration to draft a bylaw was approved unanimously.