Cart Before The Horse On Grandin Ravine Issue?
29/08/2008 07:03
This story in Wednesday’s St. Albert Gazette should further raise concern for local taxpayers on their council’s action.
It describes recent events to do with a piece of property that has neighbouring residents concerned for the environment being destroyed by the developers. The story entitled, “Grandin ravine project put on hold”, reads in part:
“A controversial development that would back onto Grandin Ravine is on temporary hold after council agreed more time is needed to study options with the proponent and worried neighbours.
Council delayed verdicts by about a month for a road closure and land sale for 214 St. Albert Road. The land is needed so developer St. Albert Crossing Inc. can begin construction on a three-storey office building between Socrates restaurant and an Esso gas bar.”
The story goes on to state:
“Neighbour Takashi Ohki, who filed the original appeal to the SDAB, noted the restricted covenant idea is new and unfamiliar to most neighbours. He also noted the province is still reviewing whether the ravine is a natural area and subject to environmental restrictions.
"The result of this investigation may affect the proposed commercial building," Ohki said, before asking council for time for all parties to talk.
By adjourning the public hearing the developer can continue stripping and grading the site. Elfar said his client is following Alberta Environment guidelines for working around a watercourse.
In the meantime, council asked for an update about a provincial review on whether the ravine is a natural area or part of the city’s stormwater system.”
Excuse me if my thinking is out of line here folks, but hasn’t the city put the cart before the horse by approving a construction start before they have properly concluded an investigation of all the details?
And further, did council act out of turn by accepting the recommendation of consultants when granting approval? It would appear that the approval process is somehow flawed and uncertain as to its future, but construction continues. Why?
Drive by like I did, and take a look at the gaping hole that now exists on that site.
As if the poor advice given council on $ervu$ Place, the west regional road, the football fields and the old garbage dump hasn’t been bad enough, now this. How much longer will city council put up with an administration who continue to make blunder after embarrassing blunder?
No ground should have been broken until all the avenues to ensure the environment was not at risk were exhausted.
Is the city’s long term record protecting the environment tarnished by so many avoidable mistakes?
