New homes across from future city park
A 52-unit row of townhouses in Glenmore is getting its approval.
Council voted in favour of the design on Monday, for the project on Valley Road, just south of Cross Road.
The one vote in opposition came from Councillor Charlie Hodge, who wasn't happy with the lack of open space on site.
"There's much about this that I do like, but I have to say that I'm disappointed that when we have facilities that have this many units designed for families, there really doesn't seem to be a whole lot of social area for children to play," he said.
"And, an expectation that children or families are simply going to walk across the street."
Hodge's comments about 'across the street' were in reference to multiple parks that are within a two minute walk of the site.
Colleague Brad Sieben disagreed.
"In close proximity, there's a ton of parks. If we actually had a walk scale with a park indicator, this would maybe be called 'a parkgoer's dream,' it's that close," he said.
"I understand where they're (other councillors) coming from, but I think there's far greater benefits to having three bedroom (units), and there's lots of green space by stroller and bike, in close proximity."
Mayor Colin Basran says with a new park also going in across the street, it's good to keep road crossing safety in mind.
"Not the developer's issue to deal with, but I think we need to be cognizant as a council and a staff, of adding more density to this area, adding a beautiful new, eventual rec park across the street, and knowing that Valley Road is very busy," he said.
"I think we are going to have some potential challenges in terms of pedestrian crossings, and getting people over to the park, that I think we need to start thinking of now, in terms of how we're going to deal with that."
Council voted 8-1 in favour of the project.
