Controversial Canmore development shot down by town council
Accusations of bullying and intimdation over residential proposal
A controversial residential development in Canmore west of Calgary was unanimously rejected Tuesday night by its town council.
The Peaks of Grassi infill development was to be built on roughly one and a half hectares (four acres) of land in the existing neighbourhood of the same name in the southwest part of town.
The plan, which called for 20 residential units including single-family detached homes, duplexes and secondary suites, has been a very popular and heated subject in the area for months.
During the meeting, at least two council members talked about the bitter debate over the plan and how it divided the usually quiet mountain town.the
Steve Hrudey, one of the Canmore residents opposed to the development, says the debate got nasty.
"We were bullied by cartoons in the newspaper. Someone at the public hearing talked about mob rule," Hrudey said.
Coun. Esme Comfort says she too felt intimidated and bullied during the process.
A lack of low-cost housing was one of the concerns raised by council.
Mayor John Borrowman says the Peaks of Grassi development would have strayed too much from previous plans for the neighbourhood.
"Once we're done with the bylaw it's out of our hands, so then really the units could sell for any price and to people that aren't needing housing to live and work in Canmore," he said.
The area is zoned as an urban reserve so, according to Borrowman, there is nothing to prevent owners and supporters from filing a new application for development.