Dear editor,
Further to my attendance at the Reeve’s Task Force meeting held in the Bearspaw Lifestyle Centre, September 22, as reported by the Rocky View Weekly, I have the following clarifications.
I would like to follow up on the question raised by Mr. Church regarding growth nodes as they are discussed in the Growth Management Strategy (GMS) for some, but not all, divisions within Rocky View. My comments focus on Bearspaw, Division 8 of Rocky View, and addresses what seems to be causing the confusion or “chaos” within Bearspaw.
A growth node is described as having a population of about 10,000 people and a density of eight-to-10 units per acre that may be required over the 50-year planning cycle of the GMS.
A Community Core is described in the GMS as a development of about 2,000 people, developed in the sense of a small village with services.
Both higher density developments are being considered over the 50-year GMS planning cycle for Rocky View so that the remainder of the lands can be developed as country residential.
Quite simply, there are no growth nodes planned for Bearspaw.
During the two-year consultation process following the GMS, Bearspaw residents were asked how they wanted to house their share of predicted growth (remember that this is a 50-year plan) during the Community Development Strategy (CDS) Town hall planning meetings. To maintain the mountain views, wild life corridors and coulees, etc, residents described a small village core. They envisioned this village or community core as having commercial, retail and institutional activity (ie. school and recreational facilities) and 1,500 to 2,500 people.
Residents categorically dismissed any idea of a growth node of about 10,000 in Bearspaw. The concept of a Community Core is currently being discussed for the area around the Bearspaw School, Lifestyle Centre, gas station restaurant, etc. area. There are no growth nodes planned for Bearspaw.
Stopping population growth in Rocky View is not an option. Planning for population growth is the only option.
Lee Anderson, Poplar Hill Pl.
