The fate of one of Morinville’s oldest homes is now in limbo pending completion of the town’s downtown area structure plan.
Town council voted 4-1 last week in favour of recessing a public hearing on a proposal to rezone 10008-99 Ave. to medium-density residential from single detached to make way for a future four-unit development. The hearing has been paused until the town completes the Coeur de Morinville downtown area structure plan.
This particular plot of land is home to one of Morinville’s oldest residences: the Billo home. Built in 1908 by a milkman named Billo, it is part of the town’s historic homes and heroes walking tour. The home was substantially renovated in 1951, according to administration, and has “no historic architectural style or significant value” left.
Owner Ron Fylyshtan previously tried to have this land rezoned back in 2011 so he could move or destroy the Billo home and replace it with a fourplex. Council voted the idea down unanimously, saying that the town needed to have the architectural guidelines of the Coeur de Morinville plan in place before it changed its historic downtown core.
Two years later, and Fylyshtan was back with the same proposal.
People like to walk, Fylyshtan said to council, and putting more homes downtown will let more people walk to and support local businesses. “If we don’t put more people in downtown, the businesses are going to suffer,” he said. “Once people get into their cars, what’s another few minutes (in them) to drive to St. Albert?”
Maurice Froment, one of about 15 residents who came to council interested in this proposal, likened the return of Fylyshtan’s request to a child nagging his or her parents until they gave in. “We’re not ready to give in.” This region has historically been used for single-family homes, he said, and was inappropriate for multi-family developments.
Approving this development would change the character of one of Morinville’s oldest neighbourhoods, said resident Carla Gannaw. “This neighbourhood may not look like it did back then, but it’s still an example of the beginnings of the community.” Approving it now would also erode the importance of the Couer de Morinville project, which is now under development.
Greg Hofmann, the town’s director of planning and development, said it would be premature to approve this development before the Couer de Morinville was in place. That plan is meant to give residents a chance to speak out about the look and redevelopment of downtown Morinville.
By recessing the hearing, council has delayed a final vote on this development until the Coeur de Morinville is in place. The plan is expected to be ready by late June.
Coun. David Pattison opposed the motion to recess, as Fylyshtan’s proposal had already been on hold for about 22 months. Coun. Nicole Boutestein was absent.
