VOL. 66 NO. 19
The Paper That ’s Going Places!
MONDAY, MAY 13, 2013
Businesses to express concerns over bylaw Michael Simpson Staff Writer A public hearing scheduled for May 13 at 6 pm has been moved from council chambers to the social center to accommodate a potentially large crowd as business owners prepare to unite and express concerns over aspects of proposed Land Use Bylaw 02-2013 which they feel will be detrimental to their prosperity. A common sentiment expressed by 37 businesses at a meeting hosted by the Chamber of Commerce on May 7 regarding the bylaw was “too much, too fast,” with respect to the changing of zones and imposition of
restrictions on what products may be sold at certain types of businesses. Others feared a spillover effect from decreased profitability at one business might in turn affect their own bottom line. The Chamber of Commerce called the meeting to allow businesses to speak to one another, discuss the bylaw and its impacts – be it positive or negative – to their operation. Chamber of Commerce President Kyle Bodnarchuk made it clear that in calling the meeting, the Chamber was not taking a position on the issue as to whether the bylaw was harmful or not, but rather that it was designed to facili-
tate open discussion among owners only. “There’s a lot of businesses thinking that they were alone in this, and now they’re more willing to express their views. The Chamber simply wanted to make sure there is awareness and everyone in attendance [on May 7] was pleased to feel their voices were getting heard,” Bodnarchuk said. With 45 people representing 37 businesses the Chamber meeting was switched from the boardroom to VALID. Bodnarchuk met later in the week on May 9 with town officials to present the concerns of business owners expressed at the
Chamber meeting, and said the information was well received by the town. “The Town is definitely listening, they want more of the letters that businesses have written so that they Town can make the changes it needs to in the bylaw. The Town is very happy with what we’re doing as far as gathering information to make changes for them so it’s all positive,” Bodnarchuk said. Business owners are being encouraged at this point by both the Town and the Chamber to send letters voicing their concerns to the Chamber to be forwarded to the town, or directly to the
Town office itself so that all the issues are on the table and requested changes to the bylaw can be evaluated for implementation. The public hearing on Monday, May 13 will be another opportunity for concerns to be addressed and possibly acted upon. Vegreville Councilor Greg Kurulok, who sits on the Land Use Committee that has worked extensively on
the bylaw, said the response from the business community has been great. “Certainly we’ve gotten some feedback, and we will listen to business owners on Monday’s meeting. From there the LUB will go back for review and study. Some aspects are relatively easy to address.” See Story............................ Page 6
Members of the business community have managed to band together to express concerns over proposed Land Use Bylaw 02-2013. Many have sent letters to the Town to outline concerns and proposed changes, while still others will have a chance to express themselves at a public hearing scheduled for May 13 at 6 p.m. at the Social Center. (Michael Simpson/Photo)
The pleasure and the pain See page 3 for story
Thorowsky and teammates earn gold in Boston See page 8 for story
Young minds design exquisite pysanky See page 18 for story