Rocky View’s development appeal board will not allow berms on land in Bearspaw where Lochend Corners, a residential development, is proposed.
Council approved the four berms, totalling 45,000 cubic metres, for the 156-acre site, located east of Highway 766 and north of Township Road 262 at a January meeting.
The dirt will come from the neighbouring residential development of Silverhorn.
“I’ve seen berms that amount to nothing more than a big dirt pile,” said resident June Cousens to the board, Feb. 20.
“Who will cut the grass, water the trees?” she asked during her presentation.
Cousens submitted a petition with 20 signatures asking the appeal board to uphold their request. The petition stated the berms would be an eyesore and degrade the value of neighbouring properties, destroy the natural beauty and nature of the community and impair the continued use of farm land.
It also stated by allowing the berms, Rocky View gives the impression that the Lochend Corners Conceptual Scheme, which is currently in the process of approval, will go forward.
Richard Rose, who was also appealing council’s decision, echoed similar concerns but added the height and locations of the berms near the intersection will create a safety hazard.
He submitted another petition with 13 signatures.
One person spoke against the appeal. He read a letter on behalf of John Bachysnki of Founders Ranch GP Corporation, the company that owns the land where the berms will go.
“A request was made by Silverhorn to accept excess topsoil from their project. With an eye to neighbourly conduct and continued cooperation, Founder’s Ranch agreed to accept the soil,” the letter read.
There were two letters of opposition to the appeal.
“I believe the berms will be beneficial to the subject lands by reducing road noise, increasing privacy and enhancing the overall aesthetic appeal of the site and have no issue with (creating) the proposed berms with clean fill,” penned David Chalack, who wrote on behalf of Silverhorn Inc.
The board took close to an hour-long break to deliberate the decision.
When they reconvened, board member Omkar Channon proposed upholding the appeal request, saying the berms have no community support and add no value to agricultural land.
Appeal board members Gerry Neustaedter and Bruce Kendall were opposed.
