INNISFAIL - Bending to the ongoing stiff opposition from business owners in Westgate Industrial Park, the town is moving to wipe away hotly contested and expensive landscaping regulations for all three local industrial areas.
The plan was introduced to town council at its regular April 23 meeting, with the expected formal bylaw amendments brought back to council on May 14 for the first of three readings before being formally approved.
Council was asked on April 23 to choose between two options: changing the landscaping requirements for all industrial areas of town, or just Westgate Industrial Park.
In choosing all three, council's decision, if formally passed this month, will impact all industrial properties in East Innisfail, Westgate Industrial Park and the area occupied by Purina and Stewart Construction.
As well, a new district could be created to address future industrial development, which could be part of the new amendments to landscaping requirements in the Land Use Bylaw (LUB). The town's lagoon redevelopment area may be redesignated to a new industrial district that will require onsite landscaping, as well as any other future industrial projects on new properties.
For the past year the 28-member Westgate Industrial Park Association has vehemently objected to current landscaping requirements of having 10 per cent of their properties set aside for onsite landscaping, or voluntarily paying cash in lieu of completing landscaping requirements.
Association members strongly opposed it, noting it did not make sense to spend thousands of dollars to beautify an area that was zoned decades ago for industrial lands, and that the cost would create hardship for many property owners. As well, argued association members, the strict requirements would either drive business away from town, or at least deter out-of-town entrepreneurs from moving into the community.
"That sounds great. That is what they told me they were going to do, so that is very honourable of them to stand up to their word," said Marc Seabrook, president of the Westgate association, of the soon-to-be-introduced amendments to the Land Use Bylaw. "I think this will be a huge boost for our economy and it should attract business. I think it is good for everyone."
Mayor Jim Romane said he supported the association's original ongoing concerns over landscaping regulations because businesses were forced to follow the new conditions "after the fact." Had they known the conditions were going to be put in place after they bought properties they could have made necessary arrangements to deal with them, added Romane.
"We listened to them, considering the economy and lack of notification and awareness when they initially developed, was our biggest downfall when that wasn't considered at the time. It is hard to go back in and tell somebody they have to give up 10 per cent of their space for landscaping," said Romane.
"When they've got pipe and materials stuck in every nook and cranny in every corner it is pretty tough to go back and say, 'Now you've got to give up 10 per cent of that property to landscaping.' I understand their predicament.
"When we develop new areas there will be consideration. People will know that going in up front," added the mayor. "There is no reason why they can't do it on their own. We can encourage it but it will be entirely their choice."
Coun. Doug Bos, who opposed administration's recommendation to prepare the new Land Use Bylaw amendments, said his biggest concern is that the town's about-face on landscaping requirements could get in the way of his strong stance to improve local entranceway aesthetics, including along 42nd Street, which is the northern boundary of Westgate Industrial Park.
"I will keep pushing to beautifying our entrances. I think any business should be proud of their business and should look good no matter what your business is," said Bos. He noted improved entrance aesthetics was part of the council-approved Strategic Plan and he's confident it will still happen. "We will make our town look good one street at a time."
Coun. Glen Carritt agreed the town has to clean up its entrances, and that he is fully in support of local beautification, but said hard pressed industrial property owners can contribute in different ways by putting in the work themselves.
"With these economic times to make them responsible when they are struggling to stay in business it makes it very difficult," said Carritt.
However, Seabrook said at least some members of his association could still be part of the town's goal to improve the look of the outside boundary of the park that faces 42nd Street and Highway 54.
"I cannot speak for the entire association because we have had mixed opinions on that," said Seabrook. "For myself I would definitely be interested in helping out."
