Free RV parking
Town council has decided to let residents park their RVs on their property year-round – at least until next year.Morinville council unanimously approved changes to the town’s community standards bylaw last Jan. 9 that loosened restrictions on recreational vehicle (RV) parking.
Under the old law, residents could park an RV in their front yard from April 1 to Oct. 31 provided it was on an approved pad. Residents had questioned the date restriction, however, noting that the town permitted many other vehicles the size of RVs to be parked in yards year-round.
The new law removes the date restriction but requires parked RVs to be set back at least one metre from the sidewalk (or curb if there’s no sidewalk) and to not take up more than half of the off-street parking allowed for that property under the town’s land-use bylaw. It also expands the definition of RVs to include off-road vehicles, utility trailers, and other work/recreation-related craft.
Residents can also now park an RV in side and back yards on hard or gravel pads. Hard pads need a development permit, and gravel pads need to be screened with a visually impervious 1.5 metre tall fence.
The new law also requires residents to replace any diseased or dead vegetation on a yard or boulevard, prohibits pruning or removing boulevard trees without the town’s permission, and authorizes the chief administrative officer or designate to use their powers under the Municipal Government Act to deal with dangerous or unsightly properties.
Coun. Nicole Boutestein said she was still concerned about what this law could mean for public safety and the amount of cars parked on streets. Council supported her motion to review this law by Aug. 31, 2019.
Mayor Barry Turner called the law a fair one that removed the time-of-day restriction on RVs.
“As long as (the vehicle) is within a safe pocket on a proper surface, we shouldn’t have all that much to say on it.”
Community event meeting
Morinville’s volunteers can find out how the town can help them run community events at an open house later this month.The Town of Morinville is hosting a community events information session this Jan. 25.
The town currently hosts about nine major public events a year, including Canada Day and the Easter egg hunt, said community and protective services director David Schaefer. Many of these events used to be run by community groups, but were turned over to the town due to volunteer burnout.
The information session is meant to help community groups learn how they can take part in major public events and how the town can help them run such events, Schaefer said.
“Special events are really the heart of Morinville, and if it’s going to be the heart of Morinville, we need the people of Morinville (involved) because they’re the ones that make these festivals and events important.”
The event runs from 7 to 8:30 p.m. in Hall A of the Community Cultural Centre. Guests should RSVP to [email protected] or Community Services at 780-939-7839 by Jan. 23.
Budget open house
Morinville residents will get to weigh in on how town council spends their tax dollars later this month.Town council is set to debate the first draft of the 2018 budget this Jan. 23, with an open house on it scheduled near the end of this month. Council approved a $4.8 million interim budget last December that will expire on March 31.
Council held its first workshop on the budget last week, Turner said in an interview. The first draft would include dollars for the construction of the rec-centre, a site plan for the rest of the rec-centre lands, and the full amounts requested by various community groups.
The open house on the budget starts at 1 p.m. in council chambers this Jan. 30 with five hours of detailed talks on the budget, Turner said. A drop-in Q&A session follows at 6, with public presentations starting at 7:30.
Residents wishing to make presentations at the open house should email [email protected] by Jan. 23.
