The Town is looking to revamp down town Okotoks and altering one land use bylaw may help to achieve that goal.

The Town of Okotoks is exploring the option to re-designate the vacant property at the corner of Clark Avenue and McRae Street, known as the Landmark Site.

Senior planner for The Town, Colin Gainer says this change could effect the whole feel of the down town area.

"So currently it's under the same land use designation as a large part of down town Okotoks, which is the Central Business Commercial District (C-CB) and what we are looking at is making a change to that site to a Direct Control District (DC). That will allow The Town to limit the uses to specific types of uses that we feel are really going to help promote that animated down town concept."

Possible uses could allow for a potential microbrewery on site, as well as or other uses such as eating and drinking establishments, retail stores, offices and residential accommodations on a second floor.

Gainer says nothing is set in stone as all bylaws require three readings by council before they take effect.

"There is not a specific development proposed for the site as it will be opened up for purchase once council has actually adopted the bylaw. So we still have to go back to council for a public hearing process and adoption. But the draft by law proposing the change has received it's first reading late last year by council, so there is a version that's before council for consideration."

If anyone is interested in learning more about the possible re-designation of the Landmark Site, Gainer says an information session will be presented and is open to all.

"This information session is really meant to allow anyone who has concerns about it or questions about it or wants further information on it, to drop in and get more information and hear from council."

The information session will be held later today, February 7, at the Municipal Centre Council Chamber from 6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

For those who can't attend the session display boards will be posted tomorrow, February 8, and comments can be submitted here until the February 14, 2017.

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