After some 45 members of the community registered to speak about the controversial Holyrood Gardens proposal Monday, the clock at the public hearing ticked well past 9:30 PM, forcing council to postpone their decision until November. Regency Developments' plan to redevelop a strip of land abutting the traffic circle at 85 Street and 90 Avenue was the final issue on a 29-item agenda, and by far the most contentious.

Ground-level retail is proposed, image via Regency Developments

Delaying the decision could throw a wrench into Regency's ability to begin groundworks on the development. Drainage and water systems would need to be installed before March 2018 when TransEd is scheduled to begin work on the new LRT station. Easy access to transit service has been touted as a major element of the project, which would provide approximately 1,200 residential units across a mix of highrise and mid-rise buildings up to 22 storeys tall. 

The November public hearing will deal exclusively with this item. But by then, several traditionally pro-development councillors may not return to city hall chambers after the October election. The Edmonton Journal notes that councillors Ed Gibbons, Bryan Anderson and Michael Oshry, who have approved of other high-density developments, are not seeking re-election. 

The narrow strip of land has been targeted for major intensification, image via City of Edmonton

Regency Developments is expected to return to council Wednesday morning to work out a way to complete underground utilities before the rezoning decision in November. Additional images and information can be found in the Database file linked below. Want to get involved in the discussion or share your photos? Check out the associated Forum thread or leave a comment in the field provided at the bottom of this page.