Editor: I am a home owner in Canmore. The green spaces and mountain environment were the most important and desirable factors for my husband and I to purchase our retirement home in the Rockies.
Canmore council has made some decisions lately that decrease the quality of life in the town. Green forested urban reserve areas have been rezoned for development within an existing built-out neighbourhood. Also, urban reserve mountain bedrock outcrop terrain with 25 per cent and 35 per cent grades have been rezoned, despite the existing Municipal Development Plan (MDP) stating that “natural land forms” should be preserved.
When we purchased our home, we were told development in this area was highly unlikely due to the bedrock outcrop. How can a town council change a Municipal Development Plan so drastically that we move from the preservation of green spaces to developing green spaces for housing?
Given the current economic hardship facing Albertans in general, is it prudent for the Town of Canmore to remove these originally promised green spaces in favour of building developments that may not be needed? The Town has incorporated policies in the soon to be approved Municipal Development Plan (MDP) that will make Canmore a lot less desirable to homeowners as well as to those thinking of buying a getaway home in this mountain town.
With the removal of these green spaces, Canmore is feeling more like a big city development.
Several factors appear to have been ignored in approving the Peaks of Grassi development. The risk of flooding in the urban reserve was not an impediment for the Town to rezone the area and if this development eventually causes flood damage, it will be the taxpayer that will foot the bill.
What other ramifications will a change in the land structure have to future and current buildings and their owners? Should we not have proper studies in place before approving land development and rezoning? Currently, there is a no parking area on the side of the street where the development is suggested, and some documents suggest the Town plans to lift this no parking restriction – are we now ignoring the traffic safety of the neighbourhood for new developments?
Homeowners are feeling that promises have been broken and taxpayers are feeling their voices are being ignored. Town council sent a notice of development to neighbours, which included a map so small that one required a magnifying glass to read it. Where is the transparency in that? Could a larger map not be folded up and sent out, instead of having homeowners call to request a larger PDF version? Do the existing homeowners have a voice, or is it just a courtesy call in hopes that no one will respond? Perhaps Canmore is no longer the small town community we thought it was.
Katie Kraus,
Canmore
