A local school division was given approval for a board office expansion, but some residents see it as a negative for surrounding property values.
Canmore’s subdivision and development appeal board verbally upheld an appeal that will allow renovations on Canadian Rockies Public School (CRPS) board office near Lawrence Grassi Middle School.
The development application will see a first and second storey addition to the existing one-storey building.
The board is expected to sign the approval Tuesday (May 24) after an appeal hearing at the Canmore Civic Centre on May 18.
CRPS’ initial development application request was denied by Canmore due to not meeting the Land Use Bylaw minimum required side yard setback of six metres or the maximum permitted eave or cantilever projection into a yard setback.
CRPS superintendent Chris MacPhee and Alistair Russell from Russell and Russell Designs Studios represented the appeal in front of the board.
They said the new additions would be “cost effective” for CRPS and will “double office space” – adding 10 new offices.
The expansion will bring staff in from the Banff Elementary School office. Currently, BES is undergoing phase one of construction for its new school.
The board office in Banff that borders BES was closed as of May 18 to make way for construction.
CRPS looked into renting office space in Canmore, but it was found to be too cost absorbent for the mountain division.
In the approval, there are three variances granted, including that the building will be 4.21 metres from the side property line rather than the required setback of six metres.
CRPS must also follow guidelines set out by Canmore such as complying with the Town’s engineering requirements, and adding four additional parking stalls, among others.
At the meeting, CRPS was met by three Canmore residents and neighbours opposing the expansion.
Canmore resident Pat Cady said his thoughts are that property values would decrease in the area if the second-storey construction went ahead due to obstructed mountain views. Cady’s thoughts were echoed by others in opposition.
“We’re feeling the setbacks as of today should be respected,” said Cady of the six-metre setback.
The designs show the building’s height increasing 2.69 metres, which is also 2.69 metres below the maximum allowed building height for that district.
The residents all strongly suggested property values would diminish due to the obstructed views.
In an interview with the Outlook, though, local realtor Dan Sparks doesn’t think property values will decrease in that area due to the building extension. He said Canmore’s property values have seen an upwards trend over the past several years.
“It’s a very modern, attractive building,” Sparks said of CPRS’ board office designs. “There’s many, many two- to three-storey properties in Canmore where that’s located ... looking for understanding where things lay, a single family lot, with no building on it, in terms on value in that area, is pretty high.”
The approval also allows for “the eaves to be 3.60 metres from the side of the property line rather than the required setback of five metres … (and) to allow for a cantilever to be 5.89 metres from the front property line rather than the required setback of six metres,” according to the agreed upon conditions.
Cady also questioned the construction integrity of the building, which was constructed in the 1970s.
“Are those walls able to carry the new weight is that taken into consideration?” Cady asked.
Nathan Grivell, Canmore planning intern, said construction integrity was dealt with at the building permit stage.
MacPhee added that “safety is the number one issue” at CRPS during this phase.
