Neighbours’ bid to halt construction of Springbank Costco store fails

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A bid by neighbors to enchantment the approval of what they see as an encroaching Costco retailer in Springbank has been rejected.

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Rocky View County officers brushed apart arguments that its growth authority flouted lawmakers’ standards when it authorised the wholesaler’s location on the Bingham Crossing growth throughout the Trans-Canada Hwy. from Calaway Park.

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At a Could 11 Board of Appeals listening to, two Springbank residents additionally argued that site visitors generated by the Costco warehouse, liquor retailer and fuel station could be extreme, sewage therapy could be problematic and that the 180,000-square-foot retailer would undermine. environment instructed for the remainder of the industrial growth.

Springbank resident Jeffrey Tooth informed the SDAB that the shop could be a significant eyesore that may injury the native mountain view and that mitigation pledges have been too small.

“Lacking are basically all of the design components promised by Bingham of their conceptual scheme … (does Costco) wish to be represented by an eyesore on the way in which to Banff?” he informed the board.

Neighbor Denise Dancey mentioned a 2012 site visitors evaluation of the location was extraordinarily outdated given the more moderen addition of the Costco retailer and famous that Alberta Transportation had expressed a necessity for a brand new evaluation.

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“It’s also extraordinarily regarding that senior administration seems to be suggesting that they need to simply proceed with Bingham growth regardless of (Alberta Transportation’s) new calls for,” she mentioned in her submission to the SDAB.

However the SDAB concluded that the nation’s growth officers acted inside their jurisdiction and authorised the undertaking whereas contemplating all related standards.

Board of Appeals sides with Rocky View County

“The event authority has thought-about the present standing of the Lands and all growth so far that may contain both Part 1 and Part 2 of Bingham Crossing,” reads the board’s choice.

“The prescriptive situations within the Growth Authority’s approval … have been a very powerful proof put earlier than the board that the event was in accordance with council precepts, as they included situations regarding design, orientation of the constructing, transport impacts and infrastructure upgrades that deal with the setting. considerations, together with stormwater and wastewater administration.”

The SDAB concluded that planners had taken adequate steps to make the shop extra aesthetically interesting.

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“The proposed growth, as conditioned, complies with constructing orientation, kind, design, together with consideration of the Springbank rural view and mitigating measures via the implementation of an exterior constructing aesthetic that comes with a rural look with a mixture of supplies, massing and articulation and earth tones,” they declared.

The Costco would anchor Bingham Crossing’s buying, workplace and 150-unit seniors’ residential elements on the 62-acre web site bought by Rencor Developments in 2007.

Earlier than final month’s SDAB listening to, Rencor President Ron Renaud mentioned he was assured Dancey and Tooth’s appeals could be rejected as a result of the undertaking had been so totally vetted by the county, including that almost all space residents would help.

The SDAB mentioned 140 submissions acquired from neighbors supported the undertaking, whereas 65 have been opposed.

Whereas Bingham Crossing’s first two phases have been authorised by the Rocky View Council, there might be six extra phases on a plot of land totaling 121 acres, Renaud mentioned.

The developer mentioned the Costco portion of the event ought to open in late 2024 or early 2025.

BKaufmann@postmedia.com

Twitter: @BillKaufmannjrn