Opposition to a proposed affordable housing project in Turner Valley has prompted council to review its options.

For three years council has been working on developing rental housing so families in a variety of economic situations can afford to live in Turner Valley. The Town is considering donating a vacant lot on Anderson Crescent to the Foothills Foundation to build three duplexes with six units and a single detached home that would be available to rent. The plan includes keeping a patch of trees that separates a triangular lot, which sits on Anderson Crescent, from a rectangular lot, located behind and is accessed by an alley.

Council has consistently said there is a strong need for affordable housing so people starting out can live in Turner Valley.

An open house was held on Dec. 14 to get feedback from residents.

Council heard from several residents opposing the project during the hearing. Brent Lindblad, who organized the petition with 63 signatures against the project, said their main concern was about losing the open, grassy land with a patch of trees.

“We’d like to see it stay as greenspace,” said Brent Lindblad, who organized the petition with 63 signatures against the project. He spoke on behalf of the objectors. “We don’t oppose what Foothills Foundation is doing, but maybe we could plan it into a newer community. Our community is 25 years old and we lost a (green) space back there already.”

Council discussed whether leaving the triangular section of the land as green space could be an option. This would mean only the rectangular portion of the land would be developed into affordable housing.

For Lindblad, however, that is not an ideal compromise.

“What bothers me, too, is the six places they’re putting in are lower-income housing. Will that affect the value of our homes? I’d like to see it left as greenspace and then do something with it, like putting the tennis courts back in,” said Lindblad.

Coun. George Wallace said there is a schoolyard at the head of Anderson Crescent and two blocks away there is a municipal park, hockey rink, baseball diamond and pool behind the Town hall.

“You already have the best access to the greenspace in town,” said Wallace.

Coun. Gary Rowntree, who lives on Anderson Crescent and opposes the development, said the school’s field should not be counted as greenspace since the Town does not have control over it.

He said the Town should not move forward on the project because of the number of people who signed the petition.

“I think we need to take a serious look at the fact that this is a substantial number of residents who object,” said Rowntree. “We represent the residents of the community.”

The 63 signatures, which are made up of all the Anderson Crescent homeowners as well as some Main Street business owners and residents from other parts of town, make up approximately three per cent of the town’s population.

Council has decided to seek more information about developing the land into duplex housing before making a decision. They want to know about emergency access to the duplexes and if the project would still be feasible for the Foothills Foundation if the triangular lot was not donated to the project.

Council plans to discuss the project further in January.

tneely@okotoks.greatwest.ca

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