WATCH ABOVE: Concerned Calgarians are fighting the potential redevelopment of the Paskapoo Slopes near Canada Olympic Park. Sarah Offin reports.
CALGARY – It’s expected dozens of Calgarians fighting against the redevelopment of a southwest green space will gather at City Hall this week.
The City of Calgary will be hosting public hearings on potential changes to East Paskapoo Slopes, located between Canada Olympic Park and Sarcee Trail South.
Trinity Development Group, who owns the land, has applied for it to be rezoned so they can develop a “dynamic urban village.”
If approved, Trinity Developments says 100 acres of the land would be built on, while they would give the City of Calgary the remaining 160 acres of land to preserve. When combined with another 160 acres of nearby land which the city already owns, it would create a 320 acre regional park.
In total, about 4.7 kilomteres of trails would be destroyed, while 11.3 kilometers would stay intact.
“It’s important to stress that the Paskapoo Slopes will be saved as part of this development proposal, including all of the highest quality land,” says Trinity Vice-President Brad Caco in a statement on their website.
Caco says the developed area will contribute at least $10 million annually in increased property taxes and will create about 2,000 jobs.
Last month, the Calgary Planning Commission (CPC) approved Trinity Development’s plan and recommended that City Council approve their application for rezoning, once the terms of a special development agreement could be reached.
SAVE THE SLOPES
Over 10,000 people have signed an online petition to stop the redevelopment of Paskapoo Slopes.
“The Paskapoo Slopes area is an instantly recognizable and unique area of Calgary,” reads a statement on the site. “Developments come and go but once a natural area is gone, it is gone forever.”
Protestors are concerned the redevelopment would damage land that includes archeological sites dating back thousands of years.
“It’s 260 acres of inner city wilderness that is not available anywhere else in Calgary,” said Laurie Quon from Save the Slopes during a rally in front of City Hall on Sunday.
“Then you throw on top of that other layers, like archaeology, and they’re doing some studies there right now and uncovering some really, really interesting artifacts.”
Public hearings on the development appear on the council agenda for Monday, July 20. However, the City says “it is very likely that the application will not be presented until sometime Tuesday or even Wednesday, due to the number and complexity of land use items on the agenda.”
– With files from Sarah Offin
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