Morinville Council Briefs

by Colin Smith

Morinville grows by almost 7%

The number of Morinville residents has topped 10,000, according to the Town’s recently completed Census.

At its regular meeting Tuesday Council received a report on the Census indicating the population of the community is 10,578, an increase of 685 residents over the last Census conducted in 2016, or 6.92% growth.

That’s as of the official Census Day, April 1, 2020. That day there were 3,894 dwelling units.
For the Census Morinville used a “hybrid” system combining online and wireless census methods.
It was completed online by 56.4% of dwellings. A census subject-matter expert at Alberta Municipal Affairs believes that to be a record online completion rate.

Due to the outbreak of COVID 19, the Town Census team only began door-to-door enumeration on June 19, following the Province of Alberta’s announcement of Stage 2 in its Relaunch Plan. The project was completed July 12.

It is considered that Morinville is the only municipality or one of very few, to have completed a municipal census project during a global pandemic.

During the discussion, Mayor Barry Turner noted that there were no plans to apply for city status at this time, and that he felt that was a discussion best left to the next Council.

BUILDING RELATIONSHIP WITH ALEXANDER

Council will be inviting the Chief and Council of Alexander First Nation to meet to discuss working on matters of mutual interest.

At Tuesday’s meeting it passed a motion “That Council direct Mayor Turner to extend an invitation to the Alexander Chief and Council to attend a joint event to begin the process of collaboratively building a relationship for the mutual-benefit of both communities.”

The motion was proposed by Turner, who said he would like to work more directly on a council-to-council basis with Alexander First Nation.

“Over the years we have had many, many informal discussions about getting together,” he said. “I’d like to move things forward and take things to the next level.”

Turner noted that the relationship with Alexander First Nation has improved dramatically over the past few years.

LANDUSE BYLAW AMENDMENT ALLOWS SECONDARY SUITES

Secondary suites will be allowed for townhouses in a new Grandin Heights neighbourhood after Council passed a land-use amendment bylaw.

Secondary suites include basement, garage and garden suites.

The land use bylaw amendment permits the suites within the Grandin Heights & Notre Dame Site Specific (DC-3-9) District, where both townhouses and single-detached homes are being built.

In response to concerns expressed about possible parking issues, Council was told that each unit will have four parking stalls, two in the rear garage and two on the garage pad, exceeding requirements. In addition, parking is allowed along 96 Avenue, which the homes front.

The potential for rental income from the secondary suites will make the townhouses a more affordable choice. Secondary suites were already permitted for the detached homes.

“This is making things easier for renters and owners,” commented Deputy Mayor Sarah Hall.

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