As I participated in Greg MacKenzie and Associates Public Site Walk presentation to re-zone lots 53-57 Sturgeon Rd. to multi-density development with an additional land “exchange” (land grab) of parkland, I was struck by the enormity of what is being proposed.
The developer’s proposal will fundamentally change the nature of this area that has been such a source of recreational, environmental and aesthetic pleasure not only for Braeside residents, but for citizens across St. Albert who walk, run, play and enjoy the beauty of this natural landscape every day.
With the construction of multi-storey concrete towers and the loss of critical parkland, your walk or run along the Red Willow Trail will never be the same. Children and grandchildren, who have played in the park area for years, will lose a favourite spot for informal soccer, baseball and other games.
In spite of the extensive branding efforts in support of the “Botanical Arts City,” the city does not have a long-term plan that will ensure the protection and preservation of our irreplaceable river valley and the parkland that surrounds it. In the absence of this, developers will continue to aggressively exploit these natural areas – they can be sold to the highest bidder.
It’s time to let St. Albert City Council know how we feel about this.
Marilyn Wangler, St. Albert, Friends of the St. Albert River Valley
