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Bearspaw residents speak out at Task Force meeting

About 175 people attended the third Reeve’s Task Force meeting, held at the Bearspaw Lifestyle Centre, Sept. 22. Many of the residents spoke out against the Growth Management Strategy (GMS) and in favour of property rights for landowners.
Resident Doug Rosholt speaks out about industrial development at the Reeve’s Task Force meeting, held at the Bearpaw Lifestyle Centre, Sept. 22.
Resident Doug Rosholt speaks out about industrial development at the Reeve’s Task Force meeting, held at the Bearpaw Lifestyle Centre, Sept. 22.

About 175 people attended the third Reeve’s Task Force meeting, held at the Bearspaw Lifestyle Centre, Sept. 22. Many of the residents spoke out against the Growth Management Strategy (GMS) and in favour of property rights for landowners.

“What really quite distresses me is the GMS, which is very draconian, draws a line right at the boundary of my property,” said Charlie Locke, a long-time area farmer. “The solution is to let economics dictate what happens to the land. Developers that want to come up with a unique, different plan, why not let them do it?”

Maureen Marston, a Bearspaw landowner who grew up in the area and currently teaches at Bearspaw School, agreed.

“I feel I should have that right and that option if I choose to subdivide,” said Marston.

“My parents didn’t argue when acreage developments came in the 1970s. In fact, they welcomed it.”

David Chalack, an acreage owner and agricultural operator, whose parents have lived in the area for decades, said Bearspaw is not suitable for agriculture.

“People can’t make a living here,” said Chalack. “I would like to say, as an agricultural owner, we want the right to develop because if you take that out of our hands we have no livelihood.”

Chalack added that more than one policy is needed for the county because of its diversity.

“One size doesn’t fit all in this county because the land types are so different,” he said.

Long-time Bearspaw resident Lee Schubert favours the status quo for Bearspaw.

“I moved here because I didn’t want to live in the city,” said Schubert. “Bearspaw has become one of the most desirable areas in the vicinity. What we have been doing in the past is a pattern that seems to be working.”

Schubert questioned the feasibility of creating urban-style growth nodes as described in the GMS. He said the infrastructure costs would be huge.

“To try to recreate that out here would be horrendous,” said Schubert. “I don’t think we have the tax base for it. I hope the whole idea can be killed in its infancy.”

Colleen Janssen Hood, Rocky View Family and Community Support Services board member and resident, said there are other costs associated with large communities.

“It’s not just about roads and water,” said Janssen-Hood. “It’s about those soft services such as day care, libraries and community programming. It requires and demands a lot of planning and it will require and demand a lot of money.”

Lee Anderson, a 25-year resident, had a different take on the GMS. He said that the document was an attempt to meet the demands of the Calgary Regional Partnership (CRP).

“Nobody wants this,” said Anderson. “It is an attempt to appease the CRP and the Province. We are trying to take a reasonable approach to some forces we aren’t in control of.”

Reeve’s Task Force Chairman Stan Church said he is pleased with the format of the task force meetings, which have allowed residents to freely express their views.

“The turnout and interest has been great,” said Church, adding that he expects 1,000 people to have attended the meetings by the end of the six meetings.

Reeve Lois Habberfield said the meetings have held some surprises.

“It’s interesting to see that while all the communities are different in Rocky View, the thinking is quite similar,” said Reeve Lois Habberfield.

However, she is concerned some members of the public have a misconception as to why council created the GMS.

Habberfield said as a member of the Calgary Regional Partnership, council felt it was forced to come up with a long-term vision.

“It seems like we don’t have the right plan,” said Habberfield. “Now that we aren’t in the CRP we can do our own plan.”

According to Habberfield, the results of the Reeve’s Task Force will give the County leverage when it sits down to talk with the CRP, which she expects will be happening in the near future.

“We need the autonomy to create a plan that our people support,” said Habberfield. “We will have the mandate to tell CRP a modified plan. We are a niche market, so we have to provide what our residents want.”


Airdrie Today Staff

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