City and Northwest Industrial Area clubs to work out mutually agreeable path on future

The approved motion would provide clubs a lease extension of up to 20 years. Coun. Alison Van Dyke said that would provide the clubs more stability. The Northwest Industrial Area Structure Plan is divided into four phases. The fourth phase is where all the clubs are located. The city said they estimate that it would take between 20 to 25 years before the land is developed. A policy overlay is in place to protect the clubs before then. But the public hearing two weeks ago saw council chambers packed with members pushing to stay put with concerns development could encroach much sooner, forcing them to leave.

“We wanted to allay some of the fears of the clubs, the concerns that were brought forward at the last meeting, and so the motion put on the table we felt was a good balance between looking at the future economic development of the northwest industrial structure plan and the security that the clubs are looking for,” Van Dyke said.

Fresh off the heels of the vote, some clubs agreed the passed motion is a good start. Corrina JM Kay is with the Medicine Hat Speedway.

“It is opening up communication between our groups and I am hoping a 20-year lease will help us lead to some compromise between both of the groups. I believe an agreement can be made, and a 20-year lease commitment is very worthwhile,” she said.

Victoria Kriszan is the president of the Medicine Hat Rifle and Revolver Club.

“I believe the council and the mayor have a better understanding of what the five clubs bring to the community and I believe that this amendment or motion that has just been passed will give us the opportunity to have open discussions,” she said.

Open discussions, Kriszan said have been missing since the start.

“I believe as our landlord that they needed to let us know what their intentions were before the ASP (Area Structure Plan) process began, and we found ourselves surprised at some of the first meetings,” she said.

Coun. Shila Sharps was the lone councillor to vote against the motion, she took aim at the consultation and whether or not the plan put forward actually offers a long-term solution for the clubs.

“I feel it is a very short term, we are going to talk to you but we still haven’t talked to you and it my mind that’s what the consultation was for and maybe I got that wrong but consultation is to hear our citizens take back what they said and come back with a solution for all and I feel we are at the same position where we left two Mondays ago,” Coun. Sharps said.

Mayor Linnsie Clark built on what Sharps said saying moving forward it is important to establish that solid relationship within the community.

“I think that what councillor Sharps is driving at is that relationship of trust that we need to build not just with this group but all of the city. There is an important job that we have ahead of us and I think many of us spoke to that during the election that we have to build trust with members of our community, and I think that is where the trepidation may be, and I want to really communicate that to the administration and how important that is to this council,” she said.

by Tiffany Goodwein

City and Northwest Industrial Area clubs to work out mutually agreeable path on future

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