After three days of public hearings, Calgary City Council on Thursday voted against a large redevelopment plan at Glenmore Landing shopping plaza on 14th street at 90th avenue southwest.The original plan, by development company Rio Can, which also owns the plaza, called for six high-rise towers directly east and south of the shopping area, however a more recent plan, submitted to the city in the spring, proposed nine additional towers, for a total of 15, ranging in height from 11 to 30 storeys, accommodating up to 8,000 residents. Prior to the public hearings the city said, as of November 28, it had received 460 responses from those planning to present at the public hearings, with 89% in opposition to the development. (23 responses in support, nine responses of neutrality and 428 responses in opposition to the proposed development). Those against the redevelopment cited the proximity to Glenmore Reservoir, Calgary’s main source of water and the potential of contamination during the building process and after. Others mentioned the increased traffic the development would cause at the intersection of 14 St. and 90 Ave., many saying it is already a ‘traffic nightmare’. Adding to the traffic in the area in the future will be a housing development at the Jewish Community Centre in Oakridge, and a Tsuut’tina First Nation commercial development south of Glenmore Landing at 14th street and Southland Drive. Objections also ranged from the height of the towers and the shadows they would cast; the danger to waterfowl flying into them as they approached the reservoir; and the loss of parkland and green space. During council's discussions, the Glenmore Landing site was compared to the East Village neighbourhood in downtown Calgary. The latter sits on 29 acres of land, with a population of 3,145 residents in 14 high rise towers. By comparison, Glenmore Landing is 3.37 acres, with the proposed population of 8,000 residents.
