Springbank Hill residents raise rezoning concerns over luxury townhome proposal

A plan to build luxury townhomes in southwest Calgary is being met with opposition. Hannah Lepine reports.

Residents of the southwest Calgary community of Springbank Hill are the latest to raise concerns over the city’s controversial blanket rezoning policy.

A 42-unit luxury villa-style townhouse complex, called Augusta Villas, is proposed for a vacant piece of land at 30 Elveden Dr. S.W.

Since the proposed land use change signs went up, residents have been raising concerns over potential traffic congestion, parking, pedestrian safety and the design’s lack of compatibility with its surroundings.

• The information you need to know, sent directly to you: Download the CTV News App

More than 750 people have signed an online petition and expressed these concerns at a virtual engagement session on May 13.

“Residents are gravely concerned about the cumulative impact of blanket rezoning in Ward 6, which has led to a surge in high-density developments without corresponding infrastructure improvements.” read an email from a resident.

“The project is seen as the tipping point that will irreversibly alter the character of the community.”

According to the project’s website, the development would include double car garages for all the homes and a pedestrian-oriented pathway.

Local residents are speaking to the media Wednesday morning at the site of the potential development to further voice their concerns.

The Calgary Planning Commission will review and make recommendations Thursday in council, it will then go to a public hearing.

CREB launches campaign

The Calgary Real Estate Board (CREB) has launched a campaign to highlight its top housing challenges faced by Calgarians this civic election.

CREB’s top five issues include, blanket rezoning, planned growth, barriers to homeownership, increases to property tax and digital energy labelling.

These policy issues were selected base on CREB’s analysis of its exclusive resale housing market data, along with the real-world experience of its realtor members.

“CREB represents almost 8,800 realtors in the city of Calgary and those realtors sit with families, Calgarians, every day. We have a good voice of what the electorate is looking for and its important for us to get our voice out there and get the voice out there for Calgarians,” said Christian Twomey, chair of CREB’s government relations standing committee.

CREB plans to host a forum for mayoral candidates in September to discuss their approaches to solving these challenges.

Calgarians head to the polls on Oct. 20.