Town approves re-zoning of private lands for a community kitchen in Coaldale

Posted on November 13, 2025 by Sunny South News

By Kristine Jean
Sunny South News

The Town of Coaldale has approved a rezoning of privately owned lands to help facilitate a proposed development that includes a community kitchen.     
Councillors passed second and third reading of Land Use Bylaw Amendment 924-P-07-25, that will rezone lands from urban residential to direct control, at the Oct. 6, Town of Coaldale regular council meeting. 

First reading of the bylaw was passed in July. 

In November 2022, Ryan Kasko, CEO of Kasko Cattle Co. Ltd., applied to rezone a parcel of land from urban residential to direct control to accommodate a commercial office space, greenhouse and community garden. That rezoning was approved under Bylaw 858-P-10-22 and since then, Kasko has proposed an expansion to the existing use. In July 2025, the town received an application for a land use bylaw amendment (rezoning) from Kasko. 

The re-designation of lands will accommodate the proposed community kitchen, that will be used in conjunction with an existing community garden, located on a four-acre parcel of land purchased by Kasko two years ago. 

The proposed development will include a community kitchen that will host cooking classes, a community garden used to grow food, that will be used in the kitchen. The community kitchen facility will also host cooking classes for families, children and adults. 

Prior to passing second and third readings of the land use bylaw amendment, Kasko spoke to council during the public hearing portion of the meeting, and outlined the proposal and intended use for the community kitchen and community garden. 

“It’s a beautiful park-like setting right next to our new office. My wife Janet, who’s also here today, and I, had a vision that we could use this property to enhance our community garden that we have next door,” said Kasko. “But additionally, provide a space for a community kitchen for Coaldale. From my understanding, there is not a facility in Coaldale that can provide this need.”

Kasko said he’s learned that kitchen space for young people is in short supply. They have toured the Interfaith Food Bank in Lethbridge, which he noted has a partnership with the family centre and is an excellent resource for young people to learn the basics of cooking and importance of healthy eating. 

“Our goal is basically to provide a facility that we would offer to community groups like FCSS to offer their programming for young people in particular,” he said. “Additionally, we are planning to use this space for cooking classes for adults and it might possibly be a for-profit part of our vision, is to offer a beautiful space for people to access.”

Kasko said they are also hoping to build a car lounge on a separate part of the property that would store cars and be for personal use. A parking area on the property would accommodate about eight to 12 cars on site. 

“We really think that this will be a special opportunity for Coaldale to preserve a park-like setting in Coaldale with little impact on our neighbours,” said Kasko.  

Councillors commended Kasko on the proposed development, his vision and devotion to the community and asked a couple of questions. Following the public hearing portion, second and third readings of Land Use Bylaw Amendment 924-P-07-25 to rezone lands from urban residential to director control was passed unanimously.