Half of a packed council chambers Oct. 11 filed out, following a 5-0 vote that struck down a proposed land redesignation in the community of GlenEagles.
A proposed land-use bylaw amendment sought to redesignate 4.15 acres of undeveloped land that was not included in the GlenEagles Area Structure Plan (or any other ASP) to R-3 development (24 multi-family dwelling units).
“We are overjoyed to see council defeat this application,” said Uwe Nystrom, a four-year resident of the Villas of GlenEagles and condo board chair.
“Our biggest issue was the road,” he said, explaining that no sidewalk, the narrowness of the road and commercial (construction) traffic all equate to “a recipe for disaster.”
At the public hearing held Sept. 19, around a dozen presentations were made by GlenEagles residents in opposition to the proposed development, citing concerns such as historical issues over slope stability in that area; the nine-metre road right that is not wide enough to meet the town’s standard 15.5-metre right of way; the obstruction of views for existing area residents who were advised upon buying their properties that the undeveloped areas would remain as such; and the increased traffic the R-3 designation would bring.
Mayor Ivan Brooker made the motion to defeat the application, which would leave the area designated as urban reserve.
“I don’t think it’s fair to have an overall higher density allowance in this area,” said Brooker, stressing that he views this community as already built-out.
Coun. Mary Lou Eckmeier referred to the nine-meter road allowance in this area as a “huge Alberta Transportation mistake.”
Coun. Morgan Nagel added his support for the mayor’s position, viewing the application as having a “long list of problems.”
Couns. Jeff Toews and Ross Watson were not permitted to provide comment or vote on the issue, as neither were present at the public hearing.
