Many years and several Athabasca town councils ago, our municipal leaders established a ‘direct control’ district covering the riverfront area within the downtown core. Any development in that area requires the specific approval of town council, as guided by a master plan for the area and the recommendations the Riverfront Design Review Committee.
This administrative set-up has created its fair share of controversy over the years. Extra Foods and Gregg Distributors are located where they are, and look the way they do, because of this direct control district. A&W is not there, for the same reason. The stage, skateboard park and spray park all exist as a result of this process; so does the new riverfront parking lot, boat launch and the centennial sculptures installed earlier this year.
Now, a new controversy has sprung up: Gregg Distributors wishes to expand, and requires specific approval to do so.
So council faces a dilemma: allow the expansion and compromise both the riverfront master plan and the role of the design review committee; or stick to the design guidelines and run the risk of disgruntling a successful, tax-paying local business by forcing them to pursue other, possibly more costly expansion plans.
The trouble with claiming direct control is that eventually, you’re forced to use it; previous councils chose to make the rules; now the current council has to play by them.
Unless someone comes up with an incredibly creative solution, this appears to be a decision destined to leave someone unhappy, no matter which way it goes.
