Community Meeting

Written By Sian Barraclough

Protecting Our Futures: Community Meeting

 Wednesday, July 24 at 7:00 PM

Bill Warren Training Centre at the Nordic Centre

Hello Rundleview Neighbours/Community,

As you may know, since the recent announcement of a proposed spa/hotel development adjacent to our neighborhood on provincial lands, a few of us have met to discuss our concerns about the project proceeding and how to mitigate its impact should it occur.  [see the map below for the leased area].

You are invited to an initial meeting of Rundleview residents/ homeowners with the goal being to see if we have sufficient common ground to speak with a unified voice in addressing town council and the developer.  As a starting point, the following is an outline of issues raised by Rundleview residents as well as the broader Canmore community.  It will be used to start the discussion at the meeting.  We look forward to your assistance in adding to and helping to clarify the significance of these issues to the Canmore community.

These concerns include:

1.      Geotechnical

  • undermining and subsidence risk

  • short/long term risk and liability

2.      Environmental

  • wildlife corridors including impact on connectivity between wildlife areas

  • wildlife habitat and cumulative effects of habitat loss

  • human-wildlife interactions

3.      Community and Infrastructure

  • utilities including water supply and support infrastructure and the impact on property taxes

  • loss of recreation for other uses

  • effect of commercial activities in our neighborhood including parking, traffic and resident safety      

4.      Consistency and Compliance with the Municipal Development Plan (MDP)

  • the MDP does not contemplate commercial activity in this part of Canmore

5.      If the project proceeds, Mitigating the impact: 

  • exceeding minimum standards set out in the MDP

  • minimize visual impact and require underground parking

  • lighting – dark standard compliant

  • no traffic through Rundleview

  • no development below the ridgeline

  • a restrictive covenant on the unused land (estimated by the developer to be nine acres) for future recreation use only in favour of the community or the Rocky Mountain Heritage Foundation (Quarry Lake Park)

Through this meeting we suggest the community give a mandate to the Protecting Our Futures committee to develop and present a unified voice of our concerns to town council, the developer and all of Canmore.  A first draft of the proposed mandate is:

To review, research and analyze all matters related to the proposed spa/hotel development in Rundleview and to provide advice, to make representations and to advocate to the Town of Canmore and the developer in relation to the same on behalf of the community of Rundleview.

We welcome all those who wish to participate in developing our positions.  We also see opportunity for an active connection with groups from whom we may gather knowledge and learning such as Yellowstone to Yukon, Alberta Wilderness Association, and Bow Valley Engage.  We welcome your suggestions of additional experts and information that should be consulted in this process.

The goal is a Rundleview community voice.  Nothing should or will stop anyone from voicing their views. To that end and to help ensure transparency, it is planned to have all the relevant materials available for all to access at   https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1ESRXD8TM-IKKDMSLR1-tvuOsHwjpzhJE?usp=sharing

The committee will, of course, consider suggestions provided as the process continues.

Please join us on July 24 at the Canmore Nordic Center at the Bill Warren Training Centre at 7:00 PM.  We believe it will be an hour well spent in helping to maintain and improve the quality of lifestyle for all Canmore residents and visitors.  For those not able to be with us in person, the meeting will be available on Zoom.   

 https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88309170738?pwd=lT5AwMfqWC2CSCptNS9napZDsNj5cc.1
Meeting ID: 883 0917 0738
Passcode: 206929

Prior to the meeting, please feel free to share your thoughts by email to   ProtectingOurFutures@gmail.com or to any one of us.

Respectfully,

Protecting Our Futures Committee:

  • Kevin Baggott, 8 - 1061 Evergreen Circle

  • Sian Barraclough, #13, 1022 Rundleview Drive

  • Al Black, 1034 Rundleview Drive

  • Andrew Hicks, 105 Deer Place

  • Bruce Libin, 106 Deer Place

  • Diana MacGibbon, 1034 Rundleview Drive

  • Brad Molnar, 1052 Evergreen Circle

  • Peter Musil, 1010 Rundleview Drive

  • John Ritchie, 101 Patrician

  • Ian Robinson, 1015 Olympic Drive

  • Eric Young, 1009 Olympic Drive

Sian Barraclough
Next

Livability in Contested Spaces