The city is exploring whether to allow churches, medical offices and daycares to locate in St. Albert business parks.
City council passed a motion Monday night to begin the process of amending the land-use bylaw to expand the permitted uses in areas designated as business parks. The decision means administration will follow a series of information gathering steps that will culminate in a report to the city manager, then a public hearing before city council. The hearing would come in November at the earliest.
Coun. Gareth Jones proposed the original motion calling for health services and day care to be added as permitted uses while Coun. Len Bracko moved a successful amendment to add religious assembly.
Council voted unanimously to move ahead with all three.
“I can’t understand why in that type of development we would not allow health services and day care,” said Jones. “Already we have dance studios, sports facilities out there, yet day care is not allowed? I can’t understand that.”
“Let’s open it up a little bit and get development going there again,” he added.
Jones said he’s spoken with developers who suggest a day care and medical centre are poised to locate in the North Campbell Business Park.
Bracko said he jumped at the chance to add religious assembly to the debate because he knows of church groups that are having trouble finding spaces to call home. Giving them access to business parks could help them get started and grow their congregations, he said.
“You could argue it would take away one more business from there but [churches] also provide a service to the community,” Bracko said. “Churches do contribute in many ways to St. Albert.”
Under the Municipal Government Act, churches don’t pay taxes, but this is true regardless where they locate, Bracko noted, so it’s not a taxation issue to the city.
Rev. Ken Walker of the New Hope Community Church would welcome the change, as his group has been having trouble finding a permanent home that fits the city’s zoning rules and their modest budget.
“It’s one giant step for churches,” Walker said. “I’m always optimistic and I’m happy that it’s gone this far. I hope it will go the next step.”
Currently holding their weekly service at Cornerstone Hall, the group would like to lease a dedicated space that would allow them to hold regular activities and grow. In the future, it would like to own a freestanding, multi-purpose facility, Walker said.
There are two areas designated as business parks in St. Albert, the area of North Campbell Business Park north of Servus Credit Union Place and a parcel in South Riel south of the new Enjoy Centre that’s under construction.
Current permitted uses in business parks are: business support service, commercial school, government service, light industrial, professional office, public utility, research and development business and research laboratory.
Mayor Nolan Crouse said he’s waiting to hear from the public hearing before forming an opinion on the issue.
“There’s some upside and some downside,” he said. “I haven’t heard from those that are affected the most.”
