UPDATE: Ermineskin Community League has formally requested a postponement of the Public Hearing on the Bylaw revision on Century Park. See below.
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| 130829_-_letter_to_council_re_bylaw_16555.pdf |
August 28, 2013
There are some very disturbing developments at Century Park, Edmonton’s largest ever infill development and our first Transit Oriented Development.
In my original Blog Post on this issue, I addressed the fact that the revisions to the DC2 Zoning, advertised by Councillor Iveson as a "housekeeping change around the parking", allow for a reduction in the quality of building materials used in the development and increases the size of advertising signage. It also moves a "park n ride" facility for which the City has another 7 years of lease rights to the north end of the development, immediately adjacent to an existing housing development. This will allow for unadvertised wood frame construction to take place on the Southwest portion of the site, nearest the existing commercial mall and immediately adjacent to the LRT.
In my original blog I missed the importance of a "temporary access" intersection at 29 Avenue & 109 St. - an intersection that was specifically specified as needing to be closed in the original transportation studies done for Century Park. Without a concerted effort by Ermineskin and Duggan residents, it appears City Council will be passing bylaw revisions which will re-open this intersection, resulting in an additional three to four thousand vehicles per day speeding past five schools and parks in Duggan and Ermineskin, en route to the intersection at 29 Avenue & 109 St. which was specifically promised would be closed in the original Century Park development permit process. This will severely impact the safety of our children.
Despite my raising numerous concerns with the zoning application as it stood with Councillor Iveson, the content of the zoning application has not changed and is being pushed forward. The advert pictured below appeared in the Edmonton Journal on August 16, pushing exactly the same changes we originally objected to in our June communications with Councillor Iveson, who tweeted that the Open House was "the beginning of the public consultation process. Not the end." Not one of the concerns we raised were addressed in any way, and yet the City "supports this proposed bylaw". Why hasn't Councillor Iveson addressed this incredibly important development within the heart of his Ward? What benefits, if any, does this zoning change bring to Ward 10 residents? All I can see is detriment.
The City's existing Park N Ride facility did not require any modifications to the current DC2 zoning. I strongly believe this "housekeeping change" is a trojan horse which is being used to usher in changes that negatively impact Edmontonians, with nothing from Procura in terms of meeting their existing commitments to Edmonton on the Century Park site. Council is simply rolling over for a developer and is not looking out for our needs. Again. For anyone interested in the complete list of changes being proposed, within the context of the original DC2 zoning, you can download them here. The proposed additions/changes are highlighted in yellow. My comments are in red.
There are some very disturbing developments at Century Park, Edmonton’s largest ever infill development and our first Transit Oriented Development.
In my original Blog Post on this issue, I addressed the fact that the revisions to the DC2 Zoning, advertised by Councillor Iveson as a "housekeeping change around the parking", allow for a reduction in the quality of building materials used in the development and increases the size of advertising signage. It also moves a "park n ride" facility for which the City has another 7 years of lease rights to the north end of the development, immediately adjacent to an existing housing development. This will allow for unadvertised wood frame construction to take place on the Southwest portion of the site, nearest the existing commercial mall and immediately adjacent to the LRT.
In my original blog I missed the importance of a "temporary access" intersection at 29 Avenue & 109 St. - an intersection that was specifically specified as needing to be closed in the original transportation studies done for Century Park. Without a concerted effort by Ermineskin and Duggan residents, it appears City Council will be passing bylaw revisions which will re-open this intersection, resulting in an additional three to four thousand vehicles per day speeding past five schools and parks in Duggan and Ermineskin, en route to the intersection at 29 Avenue & 109 St. which was specifically promised would be closed in the original Century Park development permit process. This will severely impact the safety of our children.
Despite my raising numerous concerns with the zoning application as it stood with Councillor Iveson, the content of the zoning application has not changed and is being pushed forward. The advert pictured below appeared in the Edmonton Journal on August 16, pushing exactly the same changes we originally objected to in our June communications with Councillor Iveson, who tweeted that the Open House was "the beginning of the public consultation process. Not the end." Not one of the concerns we raised were addressed in any way, and yet the City "supports this proposed bylaw". Why hasn't Councillor Iveson addressed this incredibly important development within the heart of his Ward? What benefits, if any, does this zoning change bring to Ward 10 residents? All I can see is detriment.
The City's existing Park N Ride facility did not require any modifications to the current DC2 zoning. I strongly believe this "housekeeping change" is a trojan horse which is being used to usher in changes that negatively impact Edmontonians, with nothing from Procura in terms of meeting their existing commitments to Edmonton on the Century Park site. Council is simply rolling over for a developer and is not looking out for our needs. Again. For anyone interested in the complete list of changes being proposed, within the context of the original DC2 zoning, you can download them here. The proposed additions/changes are highlighted in yellow. My comments are in red.
Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.
Download File
Clik here to view.
| century_park_dc2_21aug2013_-_with_comments_by_ecl.pdf |
