CANMORE - A property at 630 10th Street may be a beautiful oasis along Policeman's Creek, but it was not tempting enough for elected officials to spend $1.2 million to purchase it.
CANMORE - A property at 630 10th Street may be a beautiful oasis along Policeman's Creek, but it was not tempting enough for elected officials to spend $1.2 million to purchase it.
On Tuesday night (June 5), Canmore council voted in a 5-2 decision to decline an offer to purchase the property from Philippe Delesalle, who has owned the lot in the town centre for the last 60 years.
Mayor John Borrowman and Councilllor Rob Seeley were in favour of the motion to purchase the creekside lot by taking out debt.
The mayor acknowledged the unplanned project was not part of the 2018 budget, but argued the establishment of a park in that location would create a more livable community.
"I have been supportive of this discussion since it was first raised last summer when the owner first identified the interest to sell that land to the Town to be used as a park," Borrowman said.
"By creating an oasis on Policeman's Creek in the town centre district, we are increasing livability, particularly for future generations."
Seeley said he found more value in the reasons to purchase the park, as opposed to the reasons not to purchase it.
"I see this land acquisition as a good opportunity," he said. "It is also an opportunity for council to value green space and convert a downtown property to park space."
Those who voted against the motion agreed the property is beautifully situated and has attractive and established older trees on it, but couldn't get past the cost to the community over the 20-year term of debenture needed to fund the project.
"I have difficulty with this as an unplanned expense," said Coun. Esmé Comfort. "There are so many unknowns and we are struggling to pay for capital projects we know are ahead of us (in the 10 year capital plan) ... It would be short sighted to pay for this and lose out on future projects."
Comfort noted council struggled through the process to finalize the Canmore Rec Centre lifecycle maintenance project's budget, choosing to forgo a $1 million central staircase, cutting scope from the project and increasing its budget to a total of $14 million when it came in over tender.
Coun. Joanna McCallum said she would prefer to see the downtown enhancement plan completed first, and noted the sale price sets the park at a rate of $5,700 per square metre.
"I would like to see the town centre enhancement plan completed before we make large capital decisions like this," she said.
The total cost of purchase would be $1.7 million, given that over the 20-year term of the debt there would have been $468,000 in interest paid.
The enhancement plan is currently set for the 2019 capital budget and its completion to set a vision and strategy for the future of Canmore's downtown core was one of the reasons administration was not in support of the land purchase, according to general manager of municipal infrastructure Michael Fark.
"Generally, administration is not supportive of the motion at it is presented for the reasons I have outlined," he said.
Those reasons included the fact it was an unplanned budget item, there is a downtown enhancement plan process coming up in the near future and the fact the property would be assessed at a value of $165,000 as a park, versus the $1.6 million market assessment it has currently.
"There is a condition the landowner is trying to place on the Town that the parcel of land can only be used for a park," Fark said.
Fark told council it is possible a commercial development would not be possible on the property because of 20-metre setbacks from the creek, which is required in Canmore's land use bylaw.
"It is the opinion of administration the property is not viable for development other than to remain in its current state," he said, adding minimal area on the lot remains after the setback is measured from the creek.
"That (setback) is what we would apply to ourselves and other developments and is something we argue should be maintained in this case."
