Canmore residents upset about planned housing in Larch Park

A proposal to build affordable housing in Canmore has sparked concerns the project will affect the quality of life in the mountain town. 

Council wants to rezone a piece of land in a municipal reserve known as Larch Park and build about 40 housing units.

It would use about half the land, a little less than the size of a sports field, and leave the rest as green space for everyone to use.

"People are leaving Canmore quite regularly because they can't find anywhere to live," said Canmore Mayor John Borrowman.

The town, 88 kilometres west of Calgary, attracts people because of its beauty and location, but it has a zero vacancy rate for rental accommodation.

Canmore is trying to build homes for nurses, teachers and firefighters and needs places they can afford, says Borrowman.

The housing shortage also hurts local businesses when it comes to hiring and retaining staff.

• Canmore housing shortage leaves restaurants short on staff

Borrowman says the town is looking at using green space because it can't afford to use land that has high costs associated with it.

Parks are for people

But the prospect of using land zoned for a park to build housing isn't sitting well with many residents, who use the area for walking dogs, playing hockey and other recreational activities. They want the area maintained for the public.

"People who love the environment come here, and now we're saying, 'Oh, we should build houses in a park?' That's not right," said Kim Johnson, a longtime resident and one of more than 1,400 people who have signed the petition to Save Larch Park.

*Affordable housing is an issue in Canmore, in Banff, Vancouver, in Calgary, in New York City, but are they putting up houses in parks in those places? I don't think so," he said. 

The town held a public hearing on the issue Wednesday evening. It was standing room only as roughly 150 Canmore residents voiced their support or opposition to the project.