City administration might have pushed public consultations about the proposed Wakamow Valley subdivision development into 2021, but that didn’t stop some citizens from telling city council what they think of the project.
Residents Terry Bosner, Caron Berg, Todd Johnson and Jan Radwanski spoke to council during its Oct. 19 regular meeting. Bosner, Berg and Johnson were scheduled for the end of the meeting but were allowed to speak first. Radwanski was not on the agenda but was allowed to speak since he had submitted a petition before the deadline that morning.
The Express will have a follow-up article about council’s discussion on this issue.
Remember Wakamow’s heritage
Changing the Official Community Plan (OCP) to accommodate the proposed residential subdivision in the ecologically sensitive flood zone is environmentally, culturally, and fiscally irresponsible, said Bosner.
“The land is an archaeological treasure and holds profound significance to the Indigenous and Métis peoples of Treaty 4 and beyond,” she remarked.
Bosner was concerned about how they had arrived at this “tenuous juncture” in municipal planning and the fact there was no communication from city manager Jim Puffalt to the mayor and councillors. She was appalled that Puffalt had worked autonomously with the developer for 18 months without informing council.
“… the city manager has failed miserably in his position,” said Bosner.
Coun. Chris Warren, deputy mayor, interrupted Bosner and asked her not to use “language that is derogatory toward other individuals. And if you could be respectful, please.”
Continuing, Bosner said she was outraged that residents were not consulted about changing the OCP before important resources were spent working with the Alberta developer on a project that likely won’t move forward. She pointed out that the community has successfully opposed other developments in the valley before.
“The Official Community Plan was supposed to be an end to this nonsense, so why are we even considering this proposal?” she wondered.
“No means no. You are accountable to members of this community and not a solitary land developer,” Bosner added. “Let us not — any one of us, especially voters — forget this.”
Remember Wakamow’s beauty
An online petition that Berg created against the development has grown, with almost 2,100 people signing and nearly 900 people sharing it online, she said. Many residents have also signed paper petitions.
Berg’s parents bought a house overlooking the valley in 1978 and were community pillars who helped organize events, she explained. She now speaks for her family since her father and brother have passed away and her mother is not mentally sound.
“Nature does speak to us in many ways that we cannot explain,” she continued, pointing out the valley is a place of serenity and peace, a location where users gather their thoughts, a spot for animals to live, and a space to admire from the window.
While money and economic development are important, other places should be developed first since the valley should be conserved and cherished, Berg added. The valley has been an important asset for years and will be for generations to come.
Remember Wakamow’s flood history
When Johnson began working as general manager for Wakamow Valley Authority (WVA), office staff showed him scrapbooks filled with articles about past floods and natural disasters, he said.
When the proposed subdivision was announced on Sept. 21, he went to the scrapbooks and found articles about the city buying 31 homes in a flood plain for $1.2 million in the late 1980s, developing the Wild Animal Park, and a possible golf course there. Another article talked about a major flood in 1948; Johnson pointed out many floods have happened since then, which shows they are not just one-in-500-year events.
“To me, it seems like opening the OCP will be like repeating history again,” he said.
The WVA board is concerned about where the water will go when another flood strikes, especially since the proposed development covers 10 acres, Johnson added. The board wants council to keep the OCP closed.
Remember Wakamow’s public consultations
Radwanski submitted a petition to city hall at 9:40 a.m. on Oct. 19, giving him 20 minutes before the deadline to get on the council agenda. He explained that he lives near Wakamow Valley and received notice that the city wanted public input. So, canvassers walked the neighbourhood to gather signatures against the development.
Of the 125 property owners who signed, 74 live within 90 metres of the affected property, he continued. Even though city administration pushed public consultations to 2021, Radwanski knows how legislation works and worked quickly to gather signatures.
“We did meet this deadline,” he added. “Many, many, many residents are disappointed with this project.”
Council then voted unanimously to receive and file the presentations.
