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The following letter was sent to the Cochrane Times from Albertans for Responsible Land Use and appeared in the newspaper on July 1, 2009:
Dear Editor:
With respect, we take strong exception to the “NIMBYism at its core” editorial commentary appearing in the 2009 June 24th issue of the Cochrane Times.
You left your readers with an impression that Southern’ Alberta’s water issues have most to do with the economics of drawing water from the Bow River. Our coalition has questioned the availability of water for the Calgary Metropolitan Plan’s (CMP) predicted 2.8 million regional population, within the context of a Bow River currently under stress.
You also somehow managed to gloss over the opinion held by many within the region’s rural and urban municipalities, that a Calgary Metropolitan Plan (CMP) governance structure that gives Calgary a veto – granting urban voters a superior voting power over rural voters relating to matters within their own community – is fatally flawed and an affront to democracy. Excuse us if we think 14 wolves and 3 sheep voting on what to have for dinner is absurd.
Your position does not seem to be shared by the editors of another community newspaper:
“No one is arguing the merits of the Calgary Regional Partnership, but the rural municipalities do not want their decision-making authority ripped from them either”. (Okotoks Western Wheel Editorial, June 24, 2009)
You have conveniently ignored the argument reasonably advanced by our coalition that compact urban nodes as defined within the CMP, serve to encourage rather than limit urban sprawl. Overlooked too is a reality that The City of Calgary is already the world’s 5th most sprawling city. You’ll excuse us if we are suspicious of giving the City of Calgary a veto in decision-making of such grave importance, given its track record.
With all due respect, it is our belief that the CMP as it stands now needs major revision and will certainly not assure sustainability within the region. Ultimately, the cry of NIMBYism is the refuge of those who have not taken the time to truly understand the concerns of those residents who care enough to get involved. Apathy is the enemy here, NOT the people who actually CARE about their communities.
Sincerely yours,
Albertans for Responsible Land Use
Representing:
• Bearspaw Sensible Development Group
• Central Springbank Task Force for Sensible Development
• Citizens for a Sustainable Okotoks
• Highway 8 Sensible Development Group
• Just Say No to a Calgary Veto Petitioners
• Priddis-Millarville Residents’ Assoication
• Springbank Community Planning Association.”
Okotoks Town Council continues to insist they are honouring a commitment made to Okotoks residents that they would would not rely upon a City of Calgary pipeline for water and respect the wishes of those who filled out the community survey to retain the population cap. The evidence appears to contradict the claims of the Mayor and Town Council.
Concerned citizen, Laurie Hodson attended the Okotoks Town Council meeting today and posed the following question of Mayor Bill McAlpine and Town Council:
“Background:
In a CH2MHill slide presentation dated 2009 June 12 (extracts attached), the CRP Regional Water/Wastewater Servicing Committee shows The Town of Okotoks scheduled for a pipeline to The City of Calgary identified for action in 2017, based on a full-CMP projected growth population.
Okotoks Council on 2009 June 15 unanimously moved that Okotoks reaffirm with the Calgary Regional Partnership, the current growth model of the Town of Okotoks, which includes:
• growth to but not beyond the urban growth boundaries as shown in the Okotoks/Foothills IDP (population of 30,000);
• exploration of sub-regional water supply solutions enabling Okotoks to continue to live within the natural carrying capacity of the Sheep River watershed, rather than a regional water pipeline;
• working with the MD of Foothills during the CMP transition period to determine appropriate growth and development patterns in and around Okotoks into the future and consultation with the public if a growth model beyond the 1998 MDP is to be considered.
The June 12th slide presentation is presumed to be an integral component of the Calgary Metropolitan Plan, formally adopted at the 2009 June 19 CRP General Assembly.
Question:
I respectfully ask that Council please:
• confirm that the June 19 CMP can be amended only with support of a CRP double majority
• confirm the June 12 CMP provision for a water pipeline from The City of Calgary, for action in 2017
• confirm CRP governance procedures applicable to The Town of Okotoks for CMP issues remaining unresolved i) beyond the 90-day “cooling-off” period following the June 19 CRP General Assembly and (ii) beyond the two-year CMP transitional period.
Thank you kindly,”
In other words, Hodson is asking the Town of Okotoks to confirm that despite what they have said, plans are already outlined for a water pipeline from the City of Calgary to be an action item by 2017. Further, once the Town of Okotoks signs on to the CRP, they will be subject to the Calgary veto on any unresolved issues (beyond the 90-day cooling off period and the 2-year transition period).
Not surprisingly, the Mayor responded to Hodson’s question by promising to “get back to him.” We will keep you posted as to the response.
For background and to view the CH2MHill slide presentation uncovered by Hodson.
Hello everyone,
The number of people who have signed the Just Say No to a Calgary Veto petition is now hovering around 1000. I’m hoping that we can break through the 1000 mark so spread the word to your neighbours. They can sign the petition by emailing me at nocalgaryveto@me.com. A protest was held on June 12 and we received some media coverage (see some of the coverage summarized here).
The vote on the Calgary Metropolitan Plan (CMP) was held on June 19. The only members to ask for changes to the Calgary Metropolitan Plan were the MD of Foothills, the MD of Rocky View and the County of Wheatland. These three rural municipalities represent the largest land base in the area surrounding Calgary, so their unwillingness to sign puts a wrench in the provincial government’s plans–at least for now.
All three asked for major revisions to the CMP, including the Calgary veto. Their suggested revisions are not new–the changes have been put forward repeatedly and voted down by the Calgary Regional Partnership (for a recap on the requested changes, visit the nocalgaryveto blog).
Okotoks votes for the plan as is
The Town of Okotoks appears quite comfortable with the Calgary veto and voted in favour of it. Council continues to insist that it can maintain its population cap and refuse a Calgary water pipeline, while still signing on to the CMP. Folks, this is a downright refusal to face the facts as they are written into the CMP. It may even be said that the Mayor and Town Councillors have failed to do their due diligence. They have done nothing to ensure the verbal promises they have made to their citizens are in writing for the Calgary Regional Partnership and the provincial government to honour. And yet, they are willing to take out a two-page ad in the Western Wheel claiming the population cap is assured and that “sub-regional” water solutions will be sought, implying that a water pipeline from the Bow River is not in the cards.
Let’s review the facts (with thanks to Laurie Hodson for research):
-According to the Calgary Regional Partnership’s own presentation on June 12, 2009, a number of water infrastructure scenarios are looked at and the most cost effective option for Okotoks is identified as a regional supply from Calgary (based on growth to 58,000 people). Action would need to be taken by 2017. The option of a population cap and sub-regional water solution is not even considered anywhere in the presentation. (View the presentation, slides 21-22)
-The Town of Okotoks’ resolution voted on and adopted on June 15 promises ONLY to “explore” sub-regional water solutions-that’s it. There is no commitment beyond the vague idea of “exploration.” (View the resolution)
-The CMP commits local municipalities to pursuing common strategic directions at the “metropolitan” level.” (Definition of metropolitan: of or pertaining to a large city, its surrounding suburbs, and other neighboring communities.) (Read the CMP, see page 7)
-The CMP states, “member municipalities will amend and/or otherwise align all relevant local Municipal Development Plans (MDPs) and Intermunicipal Development Plans (IDPs) with the CMP within three years of the final approval of the CMP by the CRP and the Province of Alberta.” (see CMP, p. 7)
-“The CMP would be able to require that a water or transit line be placed through a municipal jurisdiction that may not be in favour of (or not in favour of some aspect of such a regional service). This would maintain the integrity of critical regional water, wastewater or transit services and be subject to a regional decision.” (see the CMP, p. 18)
-In other words, if it is judged to be in the best interests of the REGION to have Okotoks get its water via pipeline from the Bow, the CMP most certainly gives the CRP the right to force this on the Town of Okotoks, whether the local residents want it or not! If they can force a water pipeline THROUGH a community, why could they not force a water pipeline ON a community? This is particularly true if it was deemed to be in the best interests of the City of Calgary, which stands to gain financially by building and operating the water pipeline and billing Okotoks taxpayers for this service!
Despite what is written in various places in the Calgary Metropolitan Plan, Okotoks Council continues to vehemently insist they can not be forced to do anything against their will. It is astounding how little attention they have paid to what is written. They are quite frankly either practicing the worst kind of deception or totally asleep at the wheel.
Albertans for Responsible Land Use
Meanwhile, the coalition of community groups opposed to the Calgary Metropolitan Plan have now banded together to form an umbrella group to lobby for changes in the way government (at all levels) treats its citizens when it comes to land use planning. With more changes coming to various pieces of legislation that will give the provincial government increasing authority and decreased accountability, the group is determined to elevate their efforts to a higher level. The NoCalgaryVeto petitioners are being represented at the table as part of this new group. See the group’s website at www.ab-land-use.ca.
What next?
It remains to be seen what will happen with the three rural municipalities opting out of the CMP. The MD of Rocky View continues to furiously develop at a pace that has left residents reeling. Recently, the MD approved a new housing development called “Watermark” despite the fact that residents opposed it two-to-one. Even the City of Calgary’s claim that the effluent from the development’s sewage plant was unreliable and would put the City’s raw water supply at risk, was completely ignored. (Read more.)
The MD of Foothills is no doubt engaged in negotiations with the provincial government and publicly, the MD councillors have stated they would welcome provincial government intervention.
The City of Calgary gave first reading of its municipal plan, known as Plan It Calgary and community activists lobbied loudly for the plan (kudos for their efforts). Unfortunately, they seem willing to overlook the fact that rampant urban sprawl may not be planned within the city limits but it is most certainly in the cards for just outside the city’s boundaries. They can look forward to dense suburban housing developments spreading out into the countryside. The Stelmach government says there is no money for MRI’s or hospital emergency heli-pad repairs, but promises to pay for a series of rail lines snaking out in all directions to service the urban nodes or “blue blobs.” With the province out borrowing money and begging for an increase in federal transfer payments, what are the chances of those rail lines being funded? Will that stop housing developments in the blue blobs? I think not–developers can build the houses now and worry about the rail lines later, much later. In the meantime, those new residents will become car commuters into the City and put further strain on Calgary’s infrastructure.
If what you are reading here makes you angry, please get involved. There are a number of ways to help. You can make a donation to Albertans for Responsible Land Use. You can write letters to your local newspaper and/or your local MLA or municipal elected official. You can email or phone them as well. Speak up and let the government know that we won’t stand by silently while our democratic rights are eroded.
One last note, there is a by-election coming up in Calgary-Glenmore soon. It may be an opportunity to send a message to the provincial government. You don’t have to live in the Calgary riding to help campaign against the Tories. The Wildrose party, the Liberals and the NDP will all be running candidates opposing the Conservatives. You may also be interested in a strategic voting plan called, “the Democratic Renewal Project” at www.drpcalgary.com. These are all ways to send a message to the Stelmach government about the way it conducts itself.
Thanks.
Jody
Just say NO! to a Calgary VETO 