There is no harm in considering all alternatives to ensure that Cochrane remains a desired community for all residents. If we can all have an open mind in considering the issues, whether we agree with growth or not, we can understand the effects of making decisions either way. Here are a few points to consider:
1. Cochrane’s extreme growth spurts seemed to have begun in the late 1980s and 1990s.
I’ve been around Cochrane since then and moved here in 1993.
2. In the ‘90s many of the long-time residents of Cochrane were against growth because they liked and enjoyed the ‘small town’ feel, friendliness, knowing everyone in town. What was missing in Cochrane was diverse business offerings, jobs, careers and housing, not just diverse housing, not just affordable housing but any and all housing. These factors made it nearly impossible for young people to remain in Cochrane with their families as they grew up, became adults and wanted to move forward with their own lives.
3. From 1998 until mid 2000, Cochrane continued to grow with residential development, land was annexed with the commitment that it would be developed. Roads were required and a second bridge over the river was becoming obviously required.
Timing was key at this point. If all infrastructure projects were built at once the taxes of the then taxpayers would have skyrocketed. Projections were made regarding the growth of Cochrane based on the land available, the desirability of the community and the water we would have available to serve the residents among other things.
With growth came other demands from taxpayers in order to maintain the lifestyle Cochrane had and create the kind of lifestyle many people moved away from. That included more arenas so kids could play hockey, play ringette and skate; soccer fields; more schools; play fields, a bigger pool; arts facilities; theatre; public transportation and many businesses.
It is the chicken or the egg scenario. Businesses want to build when they know they will have sufficient client base to sustain them. The provincial highways began to play a bigger role for local traffic as we expanded beyond the valley, for commuter traffic going to work in Calgary and tourist traffic travelling to and through Cochrane. What do we do first? How do we prioritize? This is the job of council in listening to the voices of more than 10,000 taxpayers today.
Here we are today, with many of the amenities built or being built that were promised over the last 20-plus years and we are still not done and we are not perfect. If we stop growth now, we must consider that development already approved is equal to about 20,000 residents. If we cancel those approvals the lawsuits could potentially be much higher than the cost of a bridge or a highway. All residents and the developers of future residences and commercial development are paying into our future.
Developers pay for every developed hectare of land and for every door (apartment, townhouse, condo or house). This is why we have the town today that so many of use came here to be a part of. The last fact I want everyone to consider is that our taxes are very reasonable for the amenities we have. Just check real estate listing in other cities and towns. The trade-off is: if we stop development, the existing tax base will have to pay for everything from what we have to what we want and need as well as ongoing maintenance and upgrades.
Just like your house needs a new hot water tank, or furnace or roof so does the town need to maintain its infrastructure. Can we slow growth? I believe yes. Should we stop growth or slow it to a temporary standstill? I believe if we are willing to pay with our wallets instead of five or 10 minutes of delay in traffic, then yes.
