Northern Cross Minerals will have to draw up new plans for their property on Titanium Way.

That became clear Monday evening, after city council turned down a conditional use application for a large caretaker suite on the property.

The 4-3 vote in favour of denying the application came after a lengthy discussion focused on the proposed 193 square metre caretaker suite planned to be part of the larger office/commercial building planned for the site.

While a caretaker suite up to 120 square metres is permitted in certain zones, anything larger, up to 297 square metres, must receive approval as a conditional use by council.

A lengthy discussion among council members ensued prior to the vote.

It focused on allowing families the freedom to choose where they live and encouraging development vs. the possibility of an area intended for industrial activities morphing into a residential neighbourhood where residents expect the same services and amenities as other residential areass.

“I don’t see the downside,” said Coun. Kirk Cameron, who was the first council member to speak up, voicing his support for allowing the caretaker suite.

Cameron, along with councillors John Streicker and Betty Irwin, voted in favour of allowing the suite.

He pointed to the possibility that by OKing the caretaker suite, there could be improvements to the property, which would mean more tax dollars coming into the city.

Streicker and Irwin echoed that support.

Streicker pointed to a number of other homes in the Marwell area, noting the project had been previously approved before its permit lapsed and the allowable size of caretaker suites was changed.

Irwin, meanwhile, reiterated earlier comments she’s made. She argued that allowing larger caretaker suites is beneficial to employers who often have trouble attracting staff to the territory because of the high cost of housing.

She also has argued it should be up to individuals to decide if they want to live in an industrial area with no residential services offered.

Coun. Jocelyn Curteanu, however, countered that by stating the potential for residents to come to expect the benefits of a residential neighbourhood.

She likened the situation to lawsuits against fast food chains over the ill effects of the food everyone is already well aware of when they choose from the menu.

“They know what they’re getting into,” she said, pointing out that the lawsuits are still filed.

She also said that while she had voted in favour of allowing a large caretaker suite in the Mount Sima industrial area, in that case there were several reasons to make an exception for it in order to help grow the business which operates on a 24-hour schedule.

In this case, she said, she hasn’t heard much reasoning behind the application outside of wanting to accommodate a larger family in the suite.

Coun. Dave Stockdale was quick to point out the proposed suite is larger than his house in Riverdale, arguing that at that size, it’s difficult to call it a residence suite.

He also cited the case in Sima that was approved, pointing out that it’s a smaller area, next to a country residential subdivision.

By comparison, Marwell is a larger area that already has numerous caretaker suites.

More specifically, the Titanium Way area is set to expand, and Stockdale argued against seeing large caretaker suites developed there.

Mike Gau, the city’s director of development services, confirmed Marwell has 12 caretaker suites that are 120 square metres or smaller, two that are more than 120 square metres and seven original homes.

Mayor Dan Curtis, along with councillors Mike Gladish, Curteanu and Stockdale, all voted to deny the application.