(Lethbridge News Now)

By David Opinko

Rezoning application for proposed drive-in theatre & concert venue in Lethbridge rejected

Sep 9, 2021 | 1:44 PM

LETHBRIDGE, AB – Jaime Vandenberg will have to return to Lethbridge City Council at a later date with her idea for a new entertainment centre.

She was one of several speakers at a public hearing on Tuesday as she sought to rezone a parcel of land at 4403 24 Ave South and 4505 24 Ave South to “direct control” zoning.

It would use a portion of the land currently owned by the Skyline Travel Centre, an RV dealer near the intersection of 43 Street South and 24 Ave South.

The location of the proposed drive-in movie theatre and outdoor entertainment centre. (Google Maps)

“We are proposing this rezoning so that we can create a community fundraising platform to assist the needs of our community. We intend to do so through a not-for-profit drive-in theatre and outdoor event centre,” Vandenberg told council. “We’d like to feature a different local cause weekly where a percentage of the ticketing revenue from the event would be donated to the featured cause in exchange for volunteers to help run the show.”

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The proposal was to have a capacity of 260 vehicles for the “interim” facility, which would use what Vandenberg referred to as “sea cans” for the screen and stage.

During the summer months, she wanted to host movies utilizing an FM transmission system to send audio to each attending vehicle, as well as live, local music.

Several members of the public spoke at the hearing, some in favour of the idea and others who are opposed to it.

One resident felt having this venue would address what he felt was a “major cultural need in the city” by both showcasing local artists and raising money for causes that need it.

Another, who lives in the general area, raised a number of concerns that he and his neighbours have with the concept, including noise, light, traffic, safety, litter, crime, and property values.

In the end, city council voted unanimously against the second reading of the rezoning application, as there were several details of the proposed development that had not been worked out yet and a general feeling that the public had not been adequately consulted.

Every member of council who spoke said they loved the idea, and with a few tweaks and some more conversations with the community, it could turn out to be a great addition to the city.

The difficult part for Vandenberg now is that this was the last regular meeting of city council before October’s municipal elections.

Council could hold a special meeting in the coming weeks, but otherwise, she would have to start over from the very beginning of the process after the newly-elected members get sworn in.