Land use may change

A Turner Valley street that was once part of the town’s commercial district may soon be designated as an industrial area.

Turner Valley Town council passed first reading to change the designation of five Kennedy Drive properties from central business to light industrial Feb. 21. If approved, the Woodstock Hotel will be the only property on Kennedy Drive designated as central business.

Town planning coordinator Matthew Atkinson said the existing structures meet the regulations for light industrial and any new buildings or changes on the properties would also have to meet the requirements set for light industrial.

He said the regulations are quite similar for both, but that there are some minor differences such as set backs from property lines.

“The bigger difference is the use of the buildings or property,” he said. “Central business is more designed for your retail office type of uses and light industrial for your light manufacturing and auto repair kind of work.”

A public hearing will be held April 3.

“This is one of these mixed bags in our community where we’ve got some mixed designation,” said Barry Williamson, Turner Valley chief administrative officer. “The intent is to get that Kennedy area all light industrial. The only one that won’t fall under that category is the hotel.”

Williamson said three of the five properties being considered for a change in designation are small service-oriented businesses that provide services like welding and light manufacturing. The two remaining properties currently don’t have buildings on them, he said.

During the past decade, three properties on Kennedy Street changed from central business to light industrial, said Williamson.

“It’s becoming more of a light industrial area and is located in an area where it lends itself better to light industrial – next to a bunch of open land,” he said. “The only part of that whole segment that has anything that would fit commercial central business is the hotel and it’s likely to remain with that designation.”

Williamson said Turner Valley’s business area is along Main Street and Sunset Blvd. where there is combined business and residential designated properties.

“Central business tends to be on the main business core of your town and you try to kept the central business of your land zoning separate from an industrial area,” he said.

Light industrial areas tend to have a higher noise levels than commercial areas, said Williamson, with construction and repair work going on, more equipment in the yards and larger vehicles moving on and off of the properties.

This is why Kennedy Drive lends itself more to a light industrial area than being part of the business sector, he said.

“It is more just saying should we be making our zoning areas more aligned with what the application is,” he said. “At the end of the day we should have this area as a light industrial area and have it zoned that way so you know those designations exist in different parts of the town.”

Todd Hiscock, who owns both Tasa Welding and Backyard Custom Metal Art and Firepits on Kennedy Drive, said he welcomes the change.

“I’m for it,” he said. “It’s better to have an industrial area here. I talked to the neighbour across the road and he’s for it, too.”