Motion to explore housing expansion passed at first town council meeting of 2023

“That is something really important to consider when we are looking at this request,” she said.

According to administration, there are 28 vacant town-owned lots in La Ronge with nine along Robertson Drive and 19 throughout other areas in the community. There are an additional 14 unregistered lots on Robertson Drive that would cost $1.7 million for design, survey work, land clearing, earthworks, road and sidewalk construction, and the installation of a water supply and sanitary sewer infrastructure.

This development cost equates to $121,143 per lot, which is significantly more than recent lot sales of $30,000 to $40,000 per lot.

“My concern is we’re building lots and having to sell them at a loss consistently,” Coun. Ryan Veteri said. “If we are doing new lots at $121,000 a piece and we are struggling to get the money for the ones that we have right now, what are we doing? Are we subsidizing land for developers? That would be my concern.”

Coun. Matthew Klassen explained the municipality would never be able to sell lots at $120,000 each, noting development in La Ronge costs more due to rocks, trees and swampland.

Coun. Abby Besharah mentioned there is a lack of rentals in the community, as well as a tight housing market when purchasing an affordable home. She said the town is headed in the right direction for growth and the development of new housing can be successful if done with appropriate timing.

‘I think we’ve got some good staff response to anticipate what the demand is going to be and to be and to be able to keep that on the horizon,” Besharah said. “We can create an environment for these things, so we don’t have to get into investing our own money too much.”

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derek.cornet@pattisonmedia.com

Twitter: @saskjourno

by Derek Cornet

Motion to explore housing expansion passed at first town council meeting of 2023

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