It was refreshing to see that, in the face of vitriolic neighbourhood anger and in the middle of an election that could end its members’ political careers, city council stood firmly on principle Wednesday evening when it authorized the development permit for 30 units at 70 Arlington Dr.
When the city announced Monday that Mayor Nolan Crouse had called a special council meeting relating solely to the subject of 70 Arlington Dr. and the proposed Habitat for Humanity development, the outcome seemed inevitable. Habitat would report that building 24 homes, per the motion approved Sept. 20, was unaffordable. As a result, the city would simply let the project whither and die like the many proposed for the site that had come before it. The general perception was that, by binding the charity’s hands at 24 units, council was simply trying to dispose of it.
Habitat did report to Crouse that building 24 homes was unaffordable. And the Protestant school board chimed in that no new extensions on the sale of the land would be granted past Nov. 30. What seemed like a forgone conclusion was quickly reversed as council rescinded its previous motion, resurrected Coun. Lorie Garritty’s motion for 30 units and passed it. It was a move few expected and is sure to anger many.
There have already been accusations of unfairness hurled at the mayor for calling the meeting with such short notice, but it became apparent that this was a matter council simply wanted to close for good. It wanted these homes for St. Albert families and it was tired of dragging everyone — from proponents to opponents — through a seemingly never-ending process.
Council’s decision to not reopen the public hearing has also come under criticism, but what more can be said about a project that has been proposed, redesigned and re-presented, including the hearing on Sept. 20 when 30 units was on the table? What new information does the public have that has not been shared with council, either through hundreds of letters, emails and phone calls or the estimated more than 100 people who spoke at a public hearing that required five different sittings to accommodate everyone?
Some Akinsdale residents are outraged and understandably so. The situation as a whole has put St. Albert, its residents and its councillors under heavy scrutiny. Councillors who vote in response to public concerns “don’t stand on principle” and those who vote on principle “aren’t listening to the people.” Our enduring reputation as an elite, suburban community has only been amplified.
It is unlikely opponents of the Habitat project were willing to accept any units on that site. After all, the numbers of proposed duplexes changed repeatedly and it was still criticized. As Coun. Gareth Jones said at the St. Albert Taxpayers’ Association forum Monday night, council acceded to almost every single concern raised during the charettes and it still wasn’t acceptable.
We can say the entire debate was about green space, about NIMBYism, about density or about neighbourhood rights, but in the end it was about principle. Rightly or not, council stood on its commitment to affordable housing. The fact it came as a surprise is depressing because it is exactly what we should expect from leaders.
