CANMORE – For the last 60 years, the owners of 630 10th Street have enjoyed a little piece of heaven located in the middle of Canmore’s downtown core.
Located at the corner of Mallard Alley, the property borders Policeman’s Creek and has evolved as an oasis over more than half a century of having the same owners.
But now the owner wants to sell the land to the municipal government if it would be turned into an urban park.
Manager of public works Andreas Comeau recommended council pursue the land purchase as it is worthy of consideration for preservation and could be turned into an urban park.
“The homeowner has made it very clear to administration and council there is really only one condition and that is that it would be transformed into a park and remain a park,” Comeau told council. “Despite being on the periphery of the town centre, there are a lot of mature trees.
“It would not take a lot of effort to turn it into a park, it would look very beautiful right away.”
Council has an approved land purchasing policy that sets out it cannot spend more than market value in a situation like this. After going in-camera to discuss negotiating a price, elected officials approved a motion directing administration to negotiate a favourable terms of purchase and return for a decision.
Mayor John Borrowman spoke in favour of the initiative, saying it is important as elected officials to have a vision for the future.
“This is an opportunity that may never be there again,” he said. “If we can find favourable terms, this will serve the community perhaps for decades.
“It behooves us to at least explore the possibility.”
Comeau said the property was assessed at a value of $961,000 for the land and $600,000 for the buildings. However, he said if it were zoned as a park it would be assessed at worth $165,000.
Currently it is zoned town centre district, meaning a three-storey mixed commercial, office and residential building is permitted.
Comeau said the option to purchase the property is unplanned and unbudgeted, as it is not within council’s strategic priorities.
The reserve fund identified in the staff report, for municipal reserve related purchases, could no longer be recommended by administration as the funding source after council voted to pay for the $2 million budget overrun for the Canmore Rec Centre project.
A borrowing bylaw could be used, but manager of financial services Katherine Van Keimpema said it would take until September to be authorized.
Councillor Joanna McCallum expressed reservations around offering market value for land that would then be rezoned and lose that value.
“The word favourable is interesting because it would have to be incredibly favourable terms for me to vote for it,” McCallum said.
Coun. Vi Sandford pointed to past council decisions to purchase land, such as where the NWMP barracks are located and the site for Elevation Place.
“At the time it seemed like a lot of money, but when you realize what value those lands are to the community, I think the investment is worth it,” Sandford said, adding she considers the most valuable aspect of the site the riparian zone.
