Innisfail town council carried first reading of a bylaw that would permanently close part of 60 Avenue and 42 Street.
But council will hold a public hearing on the matter and must have the road closure approved by the Ministry of Transportation before the bylaw is finalized.
North West Pipe requested that a portion of 60 Avenue be closed to through traffic because its office is located on one side of the road while its plant and yard sit on the other side. The portions of closed road could then be sold to the company and a new access for the plant and office would be constructed on 42 Street, about 60 metres east of the current intersection located at 60 Avenue and 42A Street. Access to other parcels between 42 Street and 37 Street and the lane north of 37 Street would remain.
“Over the years we have temporarily closed this segment of road. We've never formally put it on the table to officially make a decision one way or another what's going to be the long-term status of the north segment of 60th Avenue and this segment of 42nd Street,” director of planning and development Craig Teal said.
First reading of the bylaw has no effect unless approved by the minister of transportation before the bylaw receives second and third hearing. Town council is expected to hold a public hearing on the matter during its regular meeting on Apr. 22 after advertising a notice in the local newspaper and after sending notification to landowners affected by the proposed road closure. Concerns and comments will then be summarized and forwarded to the province. If the minister of transportation approves of the road closure, council can move forward with second and third readings.
“Only after we've decided whether or not council is proceeding on with the road closure would we start formally discussing a land-exchange agreement,” Teal said.
“Certainly I think we are going to hear both sides of this issue from our previous history with the industrial property owners in that area. There will be those in favour and those against. So the advertising and public notice process is an opportunity for people to share their thoughts with us and attend a council meeting and speak directly to council on the issue.”
The portion of road proposed to be closed holds water lines, sanitary sewer lines, stormwater lines, catch basins with overhead power lines in the road allowances. All utilities will need to be placed under one or more utility rights-of-way.
“I think we have to make this first reading step to generate this discussion process,” Mayor Jim Romane said.
