At an appeals board meeting, some said the Nutana area home should stand as is, while others worried it could create a precedent in Saskatoon.
A Saskatoon development appeals board meeting Tuesday night was filled with people who spoke about a home at 833 University Drive that exceeds some of the size requirements for that neighbourhood.
In a neighbourhood full of large homes, concerns were raised about a newly- built home in Saskatoon’s Nutana neighbourhood that stands taller than some of its neighbours. A Saskatoon development appeals board meeting Tuesday night was filled with people who spoke about a home at 833 University Drive that exceeds some of the size requirements for that neighbourhood.
Looking at the three storey, flat-roofed home, the third floor looks as though the homeowners could see over their neighbour’s roofs. Otherwise, it appears comparable in size to other surrounding houses. In actuality, the building is 1.381 metres taller than the maximum allowable height for a one-unit dwelling. It’s a special height requirement for established neighbourhoods in Saskatoon, with other similarly-zoned areas having a 10-metre allowance.
Construction has been stopped, but the homeowners are looking for an exemption based on odd circumstances. A city report says nine building inspections had been done for the property in that time. This house at 833 University Drive is under construction, but a development appeals board meeting is highlighting that it’s 1.381 metres taller than what the city allows.
Curtis and Rachelle Kelln bought the property in July 2025, using a new builder to complete the building plans that were provided by the estate. Two more inspections were done on the property after construction continued, but the city found that plans the owners were working from didn’t match up with plans filed to the city.
Work has been stopped since May, but the Kellns say there are no possible alterations that could be made to the building and that “demolition would be the only viable option. ” This was backed up by an affidavit from Cam Skoropat, the owner of Lexis Homes, who the Kellns contracted to finish the building. Skoropat said the house was “virtually finished.
” Besides the height issue, the home’s north and south side walls are also 25.749 and 29.853 square metres larger than the maximum allowable size. The report adds that a step-back for the side walls is necessary, and doesn’t meet the city’s requirements. Step-backs are a development technique where the upper floors of a building are recessed from the lower floors, meant to create more natural light for the area and reduce wind tunnel effects.
Fourteen letters were submitted to the board on this issue. Some people showed support for the house to stand as is, while others worried it could create a precedent in Saskatoon. Local lawyer Kim Anderson stood with the Kellns at the meeting, suggesting the building as it is now has the same “footprint” and only houses one family. He said he understands that the board doesn’t want to encourage an “act now and seek forgiveness later” mentality.
Anderson added there is a 16.25 per cent variation from the height requirement, which he believes is an acceptable variance. While the city has minor variances allowed for some things in building construction, height isn’t part of what it describes as a “narrow list. ”“We’re not talking about a monster home footprint here.
” At the meeting, Curtis Kelln suggested there would be “no meaningful impact” to the surrounding homes if they were to compare the current building to one that meets the city’s specifications. The Saskatoon development appeals board is appointed by city council, comprised of people who are not city employees. The board asked Kelln if other things were considered to help mitigate the building height.
He said they explored the idea of a pitched roof — different from the current flat roof — but the only feasible change they could make would be to remove the third storey, which he argued would require the entire home to be rebuilt. The board asked the city if other homes in the area exceed the 8.5 metre threshold. The city couldn’t confirm, noting some buildings in the area may be older than the rule itself.
Margaret Tompson has lived in the area since 1970. She suggested the Kellns are victims, but still believes the issue should be dealt with in court. She suggested that if the home is allowed to stand as is, it could be used as an example for “unscrupulous developers” to break the rules.
Tompson’s son, Douglas, submitted a letter claiming the Kellns have “an apparent need to sue the estate of the late homeowner,” and that this is a “complex legal matter” between the two sides. Robert Clipperton spoke on behalf of the Nutana Community Association, saying personal circumstances shouldn’t be taken into consideration when issuing a building permit. Calling it a “monster house,” he said a denial of the appeal could help the Kellns in a future court case.
Cary Tarasoff, an interested resident, said in his opinion, the city has done nothing wrong. He said he doesn’t think the building would need to come down, arguing that “renovations happen all the time. ” Tarasoff also agreed this is an issue for the courts, adding that if the estate knowingly gave the Kellns wrong information, they should be reimbursed.
Dutch elm disease found in memorial tree at Saskatoon's Woodlawn Cemetery An elm tree along the Memorial Avenue of Trees in Saskatoon will be removed and replaced under the city's Dutch elm disease rapid response plan to help prevent the disease…Robert Clipperton and Peter Gallen with Bus Riders of Saskatoon set up a bus trip across the city to show what a typical city bus trip looks like.
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