Editor:
The prospect of yet another Area Structure Plan for Three Sisters lands gives TSMV an opportunity to make a gesture of no small significance.
Hidden in the voluminous woodpile of ASP documents lingers a snake to be removed.
Having secured early development approval, the provincial government granted TSMV exception to the later guidelines prepared by the Bow Corridor Ecological Advisory Group for Human Use in the Valley, essentially in relationship to larger species’ wildlife movements. After many years, the BCEAG guidelines have become entrenched and are now regarded as rules of the land.
The subject of relevance of continuity of this privileged exception was raised in an earlier public hearing and a government member dismissed the question as not being applicable to the situation. Perhaps there is, therefore, relevance in requesting TSMV relinguish its hold on this special right and join in unity with the community in respecting the BCEAG guidelines.
The anomaly may appear of little consequence, but the Town and its residents are the frontline guardians of our natural surroundings and need to be cautious towards the future, 10, 30, however many years hence. Entrepreneurs may see gold in the hills, yet there is danger in having town landowners with unfair advantages, powers beyond those of others.
Not only wildlife corridors and habitat areas demand protection, but the slopes beyond may become targets for land deals that can bring about invasiveness to the sanctuary of those protected areas.
There will never be a better time than now, and for the future, to make it conditional on TSMV or new owners to disinherit previous arrangements and to respect the BCEAG guidelines.
Douglas Campbell,
Canmore
