Municipal Planning Commission Notice of Decision - October 9, 2025

The following decision was made by the Municipal Planning Commission:

Application No. 25-097 – Discretionary Use Application for Commercial School for Massage Therapy at 3808 38 Avenue – Was refused.

The reasons for refusal are listed as follows:

1. A Commercial School for massage therapy does not meet the purpose or intent of the M-1 Service Industrial land use district as per Section 10.20.2 in Land Use Bylaw 1577 for the following reasons:
   1. it does not provide services to the adjacent industrial area, and
   2. It would be more appropriately located in a C-1 or C-5 district.
2. A Commercial School for massage therapy is a better fit within a commercial district due to the client visit portion of the business that aligns with the Health Services definition under Land Use Bylaw 1577.
3. One of the industrial goals of the Municipal Development Plan Bylaw 1576 is to maintain the integrity of industrial nodes by limiting non-industrial activities in this area to those which are compatible with industrial uses. Prescribed uses within the M-1 Service Industrial land use district may not be compatible with a commercial school for massage therapy.
4. As per Policy 8.2.7 within Municipal Development Plan Bylaw 1576, Whitecourt should maintain the service industrial nature of Hilltop Industrial and should restrict nonindustrial uses in the area to only those that can readily coexist with industrial activities. Prescribed uses within the M-1 Service Industrial land use district may not be able to coexist with a commercial school for massage therapy.

Date of Decision: October 9, 2025                   Appeal Closes at 4:00 pm: October 30, 2025

An Appeal of the above decision(s) may be made by submitting a written appeal and appeal fee ($310.00) to the Office of the Secretary of the Subdivision and Development Appeal Board, Town of Whitecourt Administration Building, Box 509, Whitecourt, Alberta, T7S 1N6 prior to 4:00 pm on the above noted date.  Any person(s) affected by the said proposal(s), has the right to appeal prior to the above date.