Crowd complains of poor consultation

The City of St. Albert and proponents of a controversial affordable housing project in Akinsdale did a poor job of consulting with area residents.

That was one of many complaints that repeatedly surfaced at a public hearing Monday night at St. Albert Place.

More than 200 people filled the public gallery and two overflow spaces during a four-hour hearing into a 58-unit townhouse project proposed for 70 Arlington Dr., a former school site the Protestant school board is trying to sell to Habitat For Humanity Edmonton.

Of the 60 people who had registered to speak, only 22 had a chance at the microphone on Monday. The hearing will resume Tuesday, March 23 at 5 p.m.

Of those who have addressed council, 14 solidly opposed the development.

Concerns raised included increased traffic, inadequate parking, reduced property values for neighbouring properties and fears the units will be of poor quality.

One of the most common objections was that the proposal contains too much density for the space in question and that it has been conceived behind closed doors without input from neighbouring residents.

Feeling ‘deceived'

"We feel deceived that you have initiated this process without the involvement of the area residents," said Penny Gardner. "We are not against Habitat For Humanity … but we are against how this proposal has been collaborated on behind closed doors."

Resident Dave Evans said that by failing to properly consult, the city has "managed to alienate an entire community."

John Richards was the first of a number of residents to suggest that a committee be formed between citizens, the project proponent, the city and the school board to decide an appropriate number of units.

"We haven't been provided that opportunity for the last two years since this process began," he said.

In an interview Tuesday, Mayor Nolan Crouse thought the idea had some "real potential" but noted that some area residents want nothing built on the land, so forming a committee would presuppose that something would be built.

"It has merit. We've got another 40 people to hear from yet," Crouse said.

When the land sale was first announced in June 2008, Habitat CEO Alfred Nikolai said that he would consult with the community to plan a development to ensure that "everybody is happy."

When questioned Monday evening he said his organization asked the city what the consultation process was, then "followed it to a T." He said he's always willing to discuss the project with residents.

"We're willing to listen, but I don't think that the people that I heard here are willing to listen," he said.

Habitat is trying to fit as many units on the land as it can, to help the maximum number of families, Nikolai said. He was disappointed that no opponents were willing to state how many homes they would find acceptable.

Protestant board chair Morag Pansegrau said the board hasn't discussed the idea of a committee to decide on the development. The board's position is that they have a sale pending and it's up to the city and developer to figure out an appropriate development, she said.

The city's consultation process requires that developers hold a public consultation both before and after a development application is submitted. Then the city holds a public hearing before council, said senior planner Lenore Mitchell.

"It's really our standard way of doing it," she said.

Design charrette

Optional steps that a developer can take include forming working groups, focus groups or holding interviews or meetings.

"We did suggest, in this case, a design charrette," she said, however Habitat felt its open houses would be an adequate way of gathering feedback.

Nikolai said that he didn't think consulting a neighbourhood beforehand was a productive way to plan a development.

"You can't go and say 'what do you want here,' because they'll say nothing," he said.

Many residents feel the development was sprung upon them with no warning or input. The first public exposure to the project was an open house held on Oct. 1 last year, when residents learned that a 63-unit complex was in the works.

Feedback from that first meeting prompted the proponent to drop the number of units to 58 and add 20 more parking stalls.

Crouse wondered Tuesday whether the city's consultation process was adequate. Being careful not to make any promises or influence the direction of the public hearing, he suggested there may be a need for the city to retreat and do more consultation at some point.

"We might have to back up a step or two here, but we have to get through the other 35 or 40 presentations first," he said.