A plan to information future redevelopment in a number of southwest Calgary communities has gotten the inexperienced gentle from metropolis council, after some pushback from residents throughout a public listening to at metropolis corridor.
The town’s Westbrook Native Space Plan goals to direct 30 years of future improvement and development in ten southwest communities to deal with a inhabitants decline in these areas over the previous 50 years.
The ten communities included within the plan are: Glenbrook, Glendale, Killarney/Glengarry, Richmond, Rosscarrock, Shaganappi, Spruce Cliff, Westgate, Wildwood and Higher Scarboro/Sunalta West.
The ten communities in southwest Calgary included within the Westbrook Native Space Plan.
World information
In response to metropolis knowledge, the inhabitants of these communities peaked at 37,619 in 1968, however noticed a inhabitants decline of 4.1 p.c to 36,058 folks by 2019.
A metropolis report mentioned solely Killarney and Spruce Cliff have extra folks dwelling there than 40 to 50 years in the past.
“By supporting elevated density in key areas, resembling transit stations, important streets and exercise facilities, and gradual development in neighborhoods, the inhabitants within the Westbrook communities can start to get better, reversing tendencies of college closings and lack of neighborhood facilities,” a metropolis mentioned. report mentioned.
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Whereas the plan wouldn’t rezone any properties within the communities, it does spotlight sure areas the place higher-density housing choices resembling townhouses and multi-unit houses could be constructed.
Greater than 30 residents and representatives of the communities included within the plan have been at Metropolis Corridor on Tuesday for a public listening to.
Many residents, together with Glendale Neighborhood Affiliation President Chris Welner, voiced their opposition to the plan.
“We do not actually really feel like neighborhood issues have been listened to,” Welner informed World Information.
Issues ranged from town’s session course of, elevated visitors and parking points on account of density, and the way the plan might have an effect on communities made up largely of single-family houses.
“Builders will be capable to come to town council after they wish to change the zoning of a property, armed with a coverage that claims they will try this,” Welner mentioned.
“Erecting terraced homes or four-storey house blocks precisely the place the coverage says; these sorts of issues are going to tear our communities aside in the long term.”
The president of Wildwood Neighborhood Affiliation, Matt Stambaugh, mentioned the communities aren’t against densification, however do have issues concerning the software of the plan throughout the completely different communities in its scope.
“The notion can be, ‘established communities worry change’ — nothing might be farther from the reality,” Stambaugh informed the council.
“Established communities care about their communities, have an extremely engaged group of neighborhood members, and have affordable issues concerning the tempo and extent of the proposed densification.”
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The plan additionally requires extra improvement round Westbrook Mall and CTrain station, in addition to “continued incremental evolution and alter” inside residential areas, and better density improvement alongside important streets and busier thoroughfares resembling 17 Avenue SW
The plan did obtain some help in the course of the public listening to, together with from Capital Metropolis Buying Facilities Ltd., which owns Westbrook Mall, and the Shaganappi Neighborhood Affiliation.
The town mentioned the plan is a tailor-made method to introducing extra density and development within the space.
“Whereas many individuals west of Road 37 hope that improvement pressures is not going to develop and emerge of their communities, this isn’t real looking,” is Ward 6’s council. Richard Pootmans mentioned.
“Basic market forces will prevail as entry to move and proximity to the core will inevitably drive improvement ahead.”
“Insurance policies can be monitored and, when accepted by the administration, up to date in a steady enchancment course of.”
Councilors voted 12-to-two in favor of the Westbrook Native Space Plan with Ward 13 Coun. Dan McLean and Ward 4 Coun. Sean Chu votes in opposition.
The plan will return to council for last approval at a later date.
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