Editor: Mayor Borrowman has departed on an extended trip and the rest of council will shortly be on their annual mid-winter break.
Council has been dealing with a lot since Christmas including: the denial of the study for rezoning of visitor accommodation, the town-wide uproar over the controversial Peaks Landing re-zoning decision, the approved first reading of the apartment building proposed by the Coast Hotel owner and the first reading of the revised Municipal Development Plan. Council members deserve a break to recharge their batteries.
But, before they departed, council left the citizens of Canmore with a homework assignment: reading and preparing for the revised Municipal Development Plan (MDP) public hearing, which is scheduled for less than four weeks from now, on March 8.This is not an insignificant task.
While council is recharging its batteries, local business owners and the working class of Canmore cannot take a break. In addition to everyday family and working responsibilities, we are busy hosting the world for world cup events and the Calgary community during our six week long winter festival. How can we find time in four weeks to review this significant document that will shape our community for years to come?
Constructive engagement in the MDP needs to take place during the public hearing. The four weeks allotted after first reading, is insufficient.
There are two goals in Canmore’s approved engagement policy: “To inform and involve the citizens of Canmore in decision making” and “to provide appropriate and practical tools for municipal staff to supply the community with appropriate information and provide community engagement opportunities.” Right now, these two goals have not been met.
The short period of time between first reading and the public hearing denies our community the ability to get informed and become engaged in the most important document that will be approved by council in many years. I welcome change that enhances the quality of life for our community and that takes into account input from our citizens, not change that worsens our quality of life and does not consider our input.
Surely council can revisit this decision and postpone the MDP’s public hearing to allow adequate time for citizens of Canmore to familiarize themselves with this 98-page document and prepare submissions for the public hearing.
Pierre Lambert,
Canmore
