With a review of the Bearspaw Area Structure Plan (ASP) underway, Rocky View County (RVC) held an open house June 6 to raise awareness about the project and gather preliminary feedback from residents.
“Ultimately, what we want to do is create a new ASP for the Bearspaw area,” Senior Planner Stefan Kunz said.
The new plan would replace the current ASP, he said, which was originally adopted in 1994. With the area experiencing growth pressure, the plan has become out of date.
According to Kunz, 196 people attended the event at RockPointe Church, giving RVC administration insight into what residents like about living in Bearspaw and what they envision for the future. Area Coun. Samanntha Wright, who attended the session, said she was “ecstatic about the turnout.”
“I think what it says about the people is they really care about how Bearspaw’s going to grow,” she said.
Several residents indicated a desire to see the community’s current character preserved. Shawnti Enns, who has lived in Bearspaw for a year and a half, said she did not want to see high-density housing in the area, but hoped for access improvements as growth continues. Others, like 15-year resident Tim Tivendale, hope to see Bearspaw stay country residential.
“The reason I moved to Bearspaw is because I wanted a rural setting,” Tivendale said. “I don’t want large developments…. We have elk and deer and moose wandering through the yard, [and] I’d like to keep that going.”
Bruce Walker, who has lived in Bearspaw for 30 years, said as the area grows, prudent development will be essential.
“You’re never going to stop progress, and, you know, they’ve already whittled it down to two-acre lots in the area,” he said.
Residents in attendance shared their opinions with RVC administration, as well, but Kunz said he was unable to officially share the themes that emerged during the session until further public engagement is undertaken as the project continues.
Additional information about the project can be found online at rockyview.ca/bearspawasp, where Kunz said residents can sign up for email notifications. The County will also use an online questionnaire and “coffee chats” to learn more about residents’ visions for the community, he added.
Wright encouraged her constituents to take part throughout the process.
“Residents often feel marginalized, that they don’t become part of a process,” Wright said. “This allows them to really get involved and say yay or nay.”
According to Kunz, the new Bearspaw ASP could be completed and approved by summer 2020. Phase two of the project will begin this fall, when potential concepts are introduced, and by next spring, he anticipated a draft of the ASP would be released for the public to review before the plan is presented to council at a public hearing. Before it is adopted, Kunz noted, the new ASP will need the approval of the Calgary Metropolitan Region Board.
“I hope they do come out with a plan that most of the residents are on-side with,” said Kate Langejann, an 18-year resident of Bearspaw, “and that residents don’t feel council has railroaded them into something they don’t particularly want.”
