Developers of large, vacant plots of land hold the key to business attraction in St. Albert, says Mayor Nolan Crouse. “If the landowners aren’t willing to develop and recruit light industry and businesses, then it becomes more difficult.
Developers of large, vacant plots of land hold the key to business attraction in St. Albert, says Mayor Nolan Crouse.
“If the landowners aren’t willing to develop and recruit light industry and businesses, then it becomes more difficult. That’s what has to happen,” he said.
The 2012 Community Satisfaction Survey questioned 800 residents on their level of satisfaction with attracting and supporting business in the community.
The bulk of respondents, at 42 per cent, said they were somewhat or very satisfied, while 26 per cent took the opposite stance, feeling somewhat or very dissatisfied.
Reasons for dissatisfaction included the city not encouraging new businesses, a lack of business promotion and incentives and high taxes.
“I’m glad that the people of St. Albert recognize that because it really has been, for a very long time, a very big problem here,” said Lynda Moffat, president and CEO of the St. Albert & District Chamber of Commerce.
Despite past problems, she said she is confident council is moving in the right direction.
“These issues are being taken very seriously and there’s a lot of really good planning taking place to hopefully see those issues not be a great concern in years to come,” she said.
Crouse said the city has taken steps to attract business like completing major transportation links and offering support for things like water, sewer and road networks.
“The fact that we’ve built Ray Gibbon Drive helps a lot as well as Anthony Henday open, that leg, especially to the west of St. Albert, really helps a lot because transportation links are key to business wanting to be here,” he said.
In May, council designated nearly 285 hectares of land in the west for light industrial development. Amendments to the municipal development plan and the inter-municipal development plan are expected to be completed by the fall.
Moffat said the city previously struggled with poor zoning, which pushed away business people looking to lay the foundation for their business in the community.
Despite efforts to attract business, Crouse said landowners remain more interested in residential developments since the profit margin is far greater.
“You’re not going to see significant business growth until you see landowners interested in developing business parks and what not. At this point, we haven’t got enough of that yet,” Crouse said.
Residential development is preferred by landowners in many municipalities, although some have managed to overcome the hurdle to have a thriving light industrial sector, Moffat said.
“The city has to take the lead role in setting the rules for the development of the city and part of setting those rules is establishing the zoning … and communicating that to the landowner,” she said.
The Community Satisfaction Survey report said that due to modifications made to the question in 2012, results are not comparable to the previous 2010 survey.
The 2010 survey found 16 per cent of respondents were dissatisfied with the support and attraction of businesses, citing similar contributing factors.
