INNISFAIL – A controversial proposal to rezone seven acres of Woodlands area land in the southeast corner of town from commercial and open space to industrial use has been unanimously defeated by town council.
As well, council tabled another proposal to turn the west portion of a 7.2-acre parcel of land in the Woodlands area from residential and municipal/environmental to commercial, potentially for a gas bar and convenience store development, or a hotel.
The proposal for the land, just north of the intersection of Highway 54 and 42nd Avenue, will be brought back to council on April 9 after council has a chance to review how the community is progressing with its legislated overall community-wide planning.
Both Woodlands proposals were the subject of lengthy and passionate debates at separate packed public hearings at council’s March 12 regular meeting. The opposition to the plans, particularly from Willowridge Road residents vehemently opposed to future industrial development south of Highway 54 and east of 42nd Avenue, underscored growing public concerns over “patchwork” planning in the community.
“We are definitely happy that council has heard we don’t want a continued patchwork happening in Innisfail,” said resident Iris Reimer, adding council’s decision to reject the industrial development proposal could set a new benchmark for the town to move in the right direction on planning. “Right, and I think that was discussed a number of times about sticking with the plans that they have, to the Strategic Plan, the Woodlands Area Plan, and that is what we brought out. Let’s stick to the plans.”
Mayor Jim Romane said while he favoured renewed development for the town it had to be properly considered for the correct designated areas, and agreed with the strong concerns from councillors Jean Barclay and Glenn Carritt that council had to get a handle on the historical “patchwork” of planning throughout the municipality.
“We’ve got industrial parks and you don’t start sticking these all over town. It doesn’t make sense,” said Romane.
In the meantime, Barclay said the town already has a plan for the community but added repeated proposals for rezoning changes have become problematic.
“Why do we keep changing it? I hear it has to be fluid. Does it? I am not sure it has to be that fluid if you’ve got it planned out,” said Barclay. “What I hear from people in Innisfail, and I have heard it for a long time, is that we need for the town to look nicer.
“We need to kind of stop doing this over here and that over there, let’s put something over here, and now something at the other side of town,” she added. “Pretty soon you are boxed in with industrial and commercial.”
Barclay noted a 2010 recreation development plan, one with a public engagement component, stated the community expressed a “strong desire” for good planning based on wide consultation and open communication, with attention given to the protection of the environment and green spaces as it was important to the overall health and vitality of the town and its citizens.
“This was eight years ago and this thing has sat on the shelf,” said Barclay.
Leading up to the March 12 public hearing, the town received several letters of concern from residents along Willowridge Road that the proposal to create a metal fabrication manufacturing facility in the town’s southeast corner would have serious detrimental environmental impacts on wetlands and Buffalo Creek, which runs through the centre of the property.
As well, there were additional concerns there would be excessive noise and light from industrial activities, adverse impacts on water wells, unsightliness of the site – particularly for residents along Willowridge Road to the west, an increase in traffic volumes, and a decrease in residential property values.
Applicant Jason McNichol told council his manufacturing facility would not have “harsh chemicals” that would harm the environment.
“We are prepared to follow all the bylaws, noise and all that,” said McNichol, adding he knew that all plans involving nearby ponds and watershed issues would have to be addressed during the development permit process.
But council members were not willing to let the applications go that far. One by one, they rejected the plan before it could pass second reading.
“I have talked about this at council through the Strategic Plan, about trying to make our entrances look better,” said Coun. Doug Bos. “But I can’t see trying to work on it to make other ones (entrances) better and this one worse, and I think that is a primary reason why we are not getting economic development in town.”
Mayor Jim Romane
"We've got industrial parks and you don't start sticking these all over town. It doesn't make sense."
