Editor: In a recent form letter response to many community members our mayor, John Borrowman, has commented on the schism, or divide, currently in our community in relation to the re-zoning in Peaks of Grassi and the need for affordable housing.
In his “message from the mayor” in the Feb. 4 edition of the RMO he mentions the need to talk productively about affordable housing and the need for community engagement.
What Mayor Borrowman seems to ignore is his role in causing this schism. The initial POG rezoning application was not supported by community members a year ago due to various concerns such as upholding the settlement agreement, current POG density, parking and safety concerns, proximity to Quarry Lake, etc.
They were against the development, regardless of what types of homes were being built. This new application that was approved, threw in an olive branch of more PAH. Council was clear in their 5-2 vote that those for the rezoning greatly weighted this increase in PAH in their decision.
This has transpired into a schism in town. People that need and want affordable housing now see this POG re-development as being solely about affordable housing. They see those against the development as against affordable housing. This is not the case. This has been caused by council.
Mayor Borrowman says that he wants community engagement, yet he and four other councillors ignored the community, where the major spoke out against this rezoning.
What is best for Canmore? A community working together to find affordable housing that makes sense for the community as a whole.
Danelle Prescesky,
Canmore
