Editor:
In regard to the fees to be paid by PricewaterhouseCoopers, (the receiver of Three Sisters Mountain Village), to complete the area structure plan, land-use bylaw amendment and block subdivision application for the new Three Sisters development:
I would like to commend Councillor Sean Krausert for his motion at the Jan. 15 council meeting to set the fees at $654,250 (with a refundable portion to protect the community from bearing the cost of any unexpected expenses beyond those estimated by Canmore administration). This motion was supported by the majority of council.
From a resident’s perspective it is disconcerting to see the fees vary from the usual Town application fee of $952,500 (for a development of this size) to the $360,920 recommended by the administration; not to mention the receiver’s request to reduce this further to $265,000.
It is reassuring that Mayor John Borrowman’s motion at the Jan. 22 council meeting (supporting the administration’s earlier recommendation of a fee of $360,920) was accompanied by an amendment that would see the fees rise with any increased area of development; and a direction to administration to enter into a letter of intent with the receiver (to protect the Town from any unanticipated cost). Although there was no refundable deposit, this motion was supported unanimously.
As a responsible taxpayer or councillor, it is important to note that setting these fees is a matter of business, and it has no relevance to the presence or absence of good will or trust between any of the parties.
It is the job of the receiver to try and get the best deal for their client and it is the job of our elected representatives to make sure they provide the maximum economic protection for our community.
Unlike Coun. Hans Helder, who was quoted as saying: “It’s not unreasonable for the community to take a certain amount of risk” and “To try and take all risk out of the equation is not a reasonable way to do business.” I would suggest that it is, in fact, the “business” of our council to protect the Canmore taxpayer from such risks.
Let’s hope this new fee structure will accomplish this.
Eric Power,
Canmore
