A proposal that would remove Morinville councillors from the subdivision development appeal board (SDAB) will sit on the back burner for now as councillors voted to table the proposed changes.
The proposal comes as part of an overhaul of SDAB rules in keeping with existing provincial laws and town bylaws.
The board hears appeals on development decisions, where residents and developers can take their concerns if they don’t agree with decisions from either the town’s development officer, municipal planning commission or council.
Currently, the board is composed of two council members and three members of the public at large. The change town administration and some councillors endorse would remove the councillor positions over the next two years until the board was made up of five members of the public at large.
The change was scheduled for a vote last Tuesday, but after a brief debate on the issue councillors voted 5-2 to table the issue. It will be revisited at a future meeting.
Mayor Lloyd Bertschi said he is not opposed to the change outright, but is concerned about a process that would take council out of typically political decisions.
“At the subdivision development appeal board, you lose all political sensitivities whatsoever on these issues.”
Part of the impetus for the proposed change came from a particularly charged development issue several weeks ago that filled council chambers.
The Morinville Christian School appealed a development decision that allowed a liquor store at the Shell station on 100 Avenue.
Coun. Lisa Holmes, who sits on the appeal board, said she was put in a difficult position because people were coming to her in her role as councillor, while at the appeal board she had to focus on the development issue instead.
She said when residents approach her with development concerns they are not aware she is limited in what she can consider at the appeal board.
“People come to their councillors to discuss them as community issues,” she said.
Holmes said she and other members of the appeal board have heard from staff at Alberta Municipal Affairs that they are encouraging municipalities to remove their councillors from the appeal boards.
Coun. David Pattison who suggested tabling the issue, said he doesn’t want to move too quickly on something this important.
“I would hate to base this decision on something that we don't have full information on at this time.”
Bertschi said the town needs to look at the entire development process from the start and then consider how the appeal board fits in.
“I think we really have to look at how the development permits come to the community at the first instance.”
