Another developer has supplied our councillors with a proposal to tear down three beautiful homes in Braeside that back onto the Sturgeon River and land swap our parkland beside the homes for lowland beside the river. My children grew up using that park and I see children playing there all summer every year and using the small hills as a toboggan run in winter.
I’ve noticed the large increase in complex towers being built along the Sturgeon River. Is that the vision that the St Albert Representative Council has for the future land use along our once beautiful river? I work with seniors in long term care here in St. Albert and some of them have told me that they grew up using this river in the summer time for fishing, boating, and swimming. Can you imagine swimming in the Sturgeon River today? If Council wants to visualize a better future for our once lovely Sturgeon River then they should be looking towards ideas meant to help improve the conditions and repair the burdens we have already placed on this river and fix it as best we can, not add to the problem.
Nobody has said much about the new Phase 3 North Interceptor Trunk Line more commonly referred to as Project 9 being built under and along the Sturgeon river/road because most of us had no idea that meant the developers could fill our river banks with high apartment towers. My friends and neighbours thought it was merely meant to improve the drainage system. I suppose that is the problem with making assumptions. I find it hard to imagine that this change is meant to improve the quality of our leisurely strolls along the Red Willow Trail system.
Please do not take away more of nature’s trees, bushes, and animals from our river and trail system. If we wanted to walk around and along concrete buildings with tar parking lots we would go for a walk in downtown Edmonton.
Donald Noon, St. Albert
