Angry residents target Calgary's south gym for city hall

When asked for a show of hands at the 14th District Mayor's office in favor of the citywide rezoning, it was hard to find a single hand in the air.

On the contrary, many hands went up in the Midnapore School gymnasium when asked who was against it.

14th District. Peter Demong hosted a town hall on Thursday evening and more than 250 people showed up to learn more and voice their displeasure at the proposed city-wide transformation plan. The plan is in the council's public hearing beginning April 22.

This is the second town hall Kuhn has led. Demong this week, Tuesday Lake Bonavista had a similar number of residents, maybe even more.

Citizens voiced displeasure with the plan, citing several familiar concerns: parking, disruption to single-family communities, community character, concerns about short-term rentals and the impact on property values.

One issue that has emerged is concern about adequate infrastructure as communities become more compact.

Twenty-five-year-old Lake McKenzie resident David Carmichael said he doesn't believe the city has fully thought this through.

“Now your infrastructure is falling apart, your water, your electricity – how do you do it?” I mean, don't think about it,” Carmichael said.

The city responded by saying that many of Calgary's established communities are 80% or less of their peak population. The infrastructure in these communities is built to accommodate the highest population, so there is scope for population growth in the area.

When infrastructure is replaced, they often increase the capacity of that infrastructure in anticipation of increased demand.

Some were concerned about eliminating opportunities for community participation in the process of change in their communities. According to Christine, depriving citizens of their right to express themselves has a negative effect.

“It can easily create a sense of alienation, and residents feel excluded from the decision-making process,” he said.

We remind you that the applicant will rise from the crowd

Landon Johnston, a 14th Ward resident and recent petitioner to challenge Mayor Jyoti Gondek, came to town hall Thursday, as he did in Lake Bonavista. Johnston sent an email to supporters earlier in the day urging people to come out and voice their concerns, noting that he had been fired from Kuhn. Demong's office earlier that day.

(Coun. Demong confirmed this, citing Johnston's disrespectful behavior in his office.)

He asked for and against the issue of changing the general urban area.

Johnston said a large portion of the 72,000 signatures he received on his petition to remove Mayor Gondek referred to the rezoning issue.

“My question to you is, yes, you can vote against rezoning and all that, but that's not enough,” Johnston told Coun. Demong.

“We need you to deal with the rigors of 1000 days…and if you don't want to do it, counselor, we'll find someone who can.”

Other residents say developers with land speculation and high home prices, and the city of Calgary with its high property tax base, stand to benefit the most from the rezoning.

Amendments to the proposed plan are pending

More issues were raised, such as access to title to the lakes and permitting of sub-suites and backyard units on that parcel of land.

There was discussion about changing townhouses to a discretionary use (which would allow residents to enter during the development permit phase) and not allowing both accessory suites and backyard suites on the same lot.

“I think there's going to be a lot of attempts to change it in a lot of shapes and ways,” Kuhn said. Demong after the town hall.

He said he would if no one suggested making changes to the yard and side suites. Demong also said that something may appear in the parking lot.

The response to the plan to transform the entire urban area was no surprise to Demong. He voted against the city-wide rezoning and also voted for a plebiscite on the city-wide rezoning issue. Most of those present said that the issue should be put to a plebiscite.

Still, Con. Demong said it's important to hear people's concerns. He said the city had planned another information session, but he said “they weren't very well attended,” including by those in his ward.

“I wanted my constituents in the 14th Ward to know exactly what was coming down the pipeline, and they came out and hundreds of people heard it,” he said.

They didn't like what they heard.

“People are upset. No, seriously. I mean, I get it, I get it. I don't want it to go forward either,” said Coun. Demong said.

“These are their homes. This is where they live. We're talking about changing the structure of the community at some point, and I don't agree with that.”