Southeast Calgary residents feel ‘lied to’ after changes to city residential proposal

Residents successful nan southeast Calgary organization of Riverbend are pushing backmost aft a alteration to a metropolis connection that would make measurement for much lodging adjacent a early Green Line LRT station.

It’s a connection that metropolis assembly will beryllium asked to springiness last support connected adjacent week.

The city’s connection would spot adjacent to 15 acres of vacant city-owned onshore connected nan eastbound extremity of nan neighbourhood rezoned to make measurement for respective 2 and 3 storey townhomes and 4 to six storey multi-residential buildings.

The connection would let for nan building of up to 600 units and would beryllium location to an estimated 1,100 group wrong stepping region of nan early South Hill Green Line station.

However, nan metropolis is looking to link Riverstone Road S.E. to nan projected redevelopment to let for transit buses to link pinch nan early LRT stop.

Residents connected nan thoroughfare provided their feedback to metropolis planners precocious past summer.

“It seemed for illustration agreeing to transit entree only was a discuss betwixt nan residents and nan metropolis and it seemed for illustration everybody was connected committee pinch that,” said Jason Wingate, who’s lived connected Riverstone Road for astir 20 years. “Although it’s not ideal, it’s not perfect, it’s amended than opening it up to afloat traffic.”

A obstruction presently sits astatine nan extremity of nan street, which leaves it unconnected to the city-owned land, arsenic good arsenic nan adjacent 24 Street S.E.

“Originally, they said they would only person buses and emergency vehicles travel done here, and location would beryllium a gate,” Calista Wintrip, a adjacent resident, told Global News.

But erstwhile nan connection made its measurement to nan Calgary Planning Commission, nan city’s authority connected onshore usage and readying matters, commissioners voted to adhd a proviso allowing Riverstone Road to beryllium opened up to each modes of traffic.

Commissioners noted they couldn’t find a “technical reason” to only allowing entree to nan thoroughfare for transit and emergency vehicles.

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The city’s website said nan transit-only connection had support from nan record reappraisal team.

Wingate, who will suffer a information of his beforehand section to let for nan roadworthy to beryllium expanded, told Global News nan alteration to nan connection isn’t sitting good pinch group successful nan neighbourhood.

“It conscionable felt for illustration we had been lied to, for illustration nan nationalist engagement was a farce, for illustration it was conscionable a show truthful they could cheque immoderate boxes,” Wingate said.

Ward 11 Coun. Kourtney Penner said she advocated to nan Calgary Planning Commission to support nan constricted roadworthy entree for transit and emergency vehicles, but it wasn’t supported.

“Knowing this was important to adjacent residents, I americium moving pinch management to understand if location is different opportunity to springiness guidance to person Riverstone Road unfastened to only transit and emergency access,” Penner said successful a statement. “It is my dream to person this scheme successful spot for nationalist proceeding connected July 16, 2024.”

Penner is encouraging residents to speak to assembly astatine nan nationalist hearing, which galore connected Riverstone Road told Global News they scheme connected doing.

“My dream is they cull this plan,” Wintrip said.

Wingate said he feels it’s situations for illustration his that has nan metropolis and elected officials “misconstruing” their narration pinch residents.

“It’s not unruly kid and parent, it’s employer and worker and they’re nan latter,” Wingate said. “I deliberation they request to recognize it.”