Construction on a controversial shopping centre in Springbank could begin as soon as next fall if everything goes as planned.
“We wanted to show people our progress and show people that we are moving forward,” said Ron Renaud, developer for Bingham Crossing, of the purpose for an open house held Jan. 15 at the Springbank Heritage Club.
Rocky View County council approved the land redesignation request for the project on Nov. 1 after a two-day, 20-hour public hearing during which dozens of people came to voice their opinion on the centre, to be located kitty-corner to Calaway Park, west of Calgary and adjacent to Highway 1.
Bingham Crossing will include a village centre with a multi-level senior housing complex, office, retail and commercial spaces.
The development company hosted the open house last week and presented ideas for the master site development plan (MSDP), which provides direction for building placement, lighting, parking and architectural treatment.
The MSDP for Bingham will also include information on signage, water, wastewater and stormwater servicing as well as the transportation network and a berm and screening plan.
Renaud said the group is planning to bring the application forward in the next few weeks with the hopes it will come before council in May or June.
The group is now applying for permits for grading and stripping of the site. He said if the MSDP is approved the company will look at getting a development permit for infrastructure work in the fall.
“It’s more likely building construction will begin in 2014,” he said, adding there are plans to open the first phase of the development in the fall of 2014.
Throughout the night, about 75 people trickled in and out of the building to look at plans and ask questions to representatives from Bingham Crossing.
Some of the old tensions remained.
“I’ve been to a number of meetings and I feel the feedback has been totally ignored,” said Gail Mullens, Springbank resident.
She has concerns about the senior centre, which she said she has heard will be costly to live in and the size of Bingham Crossing is too large for the area.
When asked about the size, Renaud said people need to keep in mind the plans are for phase one only. He said the centre will take up about 27,000 square feet and the seniors complex will house roughly 150 people.
He said any future development, for phases two and three, would have to receive approval from council.
Resident Ed Mullens said it’s inevitable that something would eventually be built on the site, which is located kitty-corner to Calaway Park and near the Springbank Airport.
“The proposal is what I want, not an RV Centre,” he said of what it could have become if Bingham Crossing wasn’t approved.
Ian Galbraith, who said he lives “a stone’s throw away,” from Bingham’s location, said people who are opposed to the development are like ostriches who, when they come home from work, “just want to hide their head in the sand.”
He said people who have lived in the area for a while wouldn’t mind the services provided by the village.
“We don’t want to go to the monster to the east (Calgary) just for a loaf of bread,” he said.
He added he believes the developer is reputable and is excited to see what unfolds.
Gail Hinchcliffe, president of United Active Living Inc., the development company for the senior complex, was also present during the open house.
She said the condo-style senior’s building will offer assisted living for those with various levels of dementia as well as for those who may need support services periodically.
“The villa may also appeal for residents who may be snowbirds and want to stay in the community but not necessarily mow their lawns,” said Hinchcliffe.
She couldn’t say how many levels the complex will be, explaining that the project is still in the planning stages, but said developers hope the opening will coincide with the retail opening set for the spring of 2014.
