The expansion was revisited when City Council met Monday night and after a very lengthy debate, it was approved 4-2.

 

There will be new residential lots available for sale at Moose Jaw City Hall in the New Year. Council passed a motion 4-2 Monday night, giving the green light for the 35-lot expansion in the South Hill subdivision called West Heath, at a cost of 1.2 million dollars.

But during the discussion the question of whether of not Moose Jaw was actually sold out of lots came up several times. Councillor Dawn Luhning was very vocal during the debate.

"I voted against this motion before and there are reasons why I voted against it. There are lots available and I believe this is a short term fix."

But that's not what City Clerk Steven Schiefner had to say just minutes before.

"We had a wait list of about 19 people some time ago and I think that its pretty much common knowledge that we (City Hall) don't have lots for sale."

The only lots available in Moose Jaw right now are through contractors that already own land. If you want to build you own home or use another contractor you're out of luck.

Councillor Regina Sagal-Hendry recognized the problem created by an increased demand for lots in 2007 and voted in favour of the motion.

"When they report in the Calgary Herald that you can't get a lot in Moose Jaw people get the idea that were closed for businesses but we are not closed for business."

However, Councillor Brian Swanson voted against the motion asking who is going to buy a property on South Hill in an area that has historically experienced slow growth?

"One comment was that it’s like having a store with nothing to sell. But I would counter; you have to be careful because sometimes you can have a store with inventory that nobody wants to buy. You might sell iPods and if they're all gone by Christmas time you can fill your shelves with 8 tracks but its not going to help your sales."

With the approval of the plan to expand West Heath, new lots should be going up for sale through City Hall in early 2008. If sales go well, Phase II of the expansion will go ahead in later 2008.