In the shadow of a Beechcraft King Air twin-turboprop airplane in the hangar of the Central Aviation Inc., tensions rose between users of the Springbank Airport and the developer in charge of Harmony Developments April 14.
It may be a done deal, given approval by Rocky View County (RVC) in 2012, but the $6-billion residential development project - set to include 3,500 homes with a golf course, business and light industrial uses adjacent to the Springbank Airport - has members of the Springbank Airport Business and Pilots Association (SABPA) voicing frustrations with the project’s proximity to the airport.
“It just doesn’t make any common sense,” John Fitzsimmons, longtime Springbank resident and recreational pilot, explained as he drew out the flights path on an aerial photograph of the planes leaving the airport.
His concerns matched those of other residents in attendance, who expressed apprehension over potential for an aircraft collision in a residential area as the majority of daily flights hover above the concentration of homes. Members of the SABPA invited Bordeaux Homes and its partners to hear the concerns they had about the project.
Birol Fisekci, president and CEO of Bordeaux homes, the developer for the project, was on hand to field questions over safety, noise reduction, deterring water fowl and building standards.
“I’m disappointed (by the push back),” Fisekci said. “But I think it is because of mixed agendas.”
The Springbank Airport – the 12th busiest in Canada – is used primarily as a training facility. Last year, the airport saw 134,510 movements – airport lingo for departures and arrivals. The airport’s number of movements have slowly been decreasing, according to Transport Canada.
Springbank Airport had 167,105 movements in 2008 - 32,595 more than 2013 figures.
The golf course, business and light industrial development would border the airport, with the 3,500 homes developed further back.
“We think it is a safe airport,” Fisekci said. “Most accidents occurred – where they should – on airport land.”
Pilots in the audience took exception, stating the height and frequency of the flights leaving the airport create a great potential for an airplane crash.
“Accidents happen, they happen with highly trained and skilled pilots,” said Bruce Evans, a board member with SABPA. “When those emergencies happen … there’s very little a flight crew can do.”
According to the Transportation Safety Board – a federal agency that records airport incidents – the Springbank Airport and surrounding area has recorded three fatal crashes since 2004.
Since 2004, the agency has 35 recorded incidents at the Springbank Airport and surrounding area, with the most recent occurring on April 14 where “a privately operated amateur-built super petrel 100 …was operating on a local pleasure craft flight from Olds to Didsbury to a private airstrip northwest of Springbank…an approach was conducted...and during touchdown the aircraft ground looped. The upper wing sustained substantial damage. The pilot was uninjured.”
The project has been in the works since 2007 when the conceptual scheme was approved and public hearings and open houses were hosted by RVC and Bordeaux Properties in 2008.
“We’ve had unanimous approval at every stage of the way expect for one,” Fisekci explained. “There’s overwhelming support for Harmony. You should be able to live in Springbank and be able to live progressively to be able move to different price points.”
He explained that the price point would be “affordable,” with prices starting in the low $300,000.
Those in attendance, referenced a report issued by the Calgary Airport Authority dated in 2008, that surmised that, “as a basic planning principle, airports and adjacent residential development represents a mix of incompatible land uses….Over the long term it is the M.D. of Rocky View (now RVC) that will be negatively impacted by developments that are incompatible with airport operations.”
Area councillor Jerry Arshinoff and former Springbank councillor Kim Magnuson were in attendance to listen to Fisekci’s presentation.
“There’s going to be conflict from the people that will live here and the pilots,” Arshinoff said.
“There will be major conflict. Sooner or later an accident will happen.”
Magnuson voted in favour at the time the application was approved.
On March 4, Fisekci presented an update of the development to members of the RVC Policy and Priorities Committee (PPC).
“RVC has shown true leadership and trust in our process throughout the entire genesis and evolution of Harmony, from the planning stages through the undeniable support we have received for our approvals to date. It was our pleasure to speak with the PPC so that we could update both new and returning councillors on the progress Harmony has made to date,” Fisekci said in March.
At full build-out, the 1,700-acre development will include 3,500 residential units to accommodate about 10,000 people, a multi-purpose lake amenity, parks and open spaces, community services, a community village centre, two 18-hole golf courses, and a business employment area.
With files from Kristen Spruit
