Another lawsuit has been launched against the City of Calgary, this one by a group called Neighbours for Richmond Knob Hill (N4RKH) citing the city’s rezoning of the site of the former Viscount Bennett High School which the group says risks neighbourhood safety and, among other things, home values and equity. On April 8, Calgary city council approved a major rezoning of the site, permitting high-density residential towers. In a statement, N4RKH said, “Blanket rezoning does not absolve the city of its obligation to exercise due diligence in approving development applications.” The site, at Richmond Rd. and Crowchild Tr. SW, is just minutes away from the Marda Loop area, where a $75 million lawsuit was launched last month against the city by a group of businesses, claiming they have suffered dire financial consequences, due to ongoing construction in the area. In an interview with Western Standard, Lucia Lake, the community lead for N4RKH, said the legal action addresses a recurring city-wide issue: the approval is of high-density developments without proper planning or community input and procedural gaps in the city's decision-making process. “The city’s approval of this rezoning represents a major shift for our neighbourhood,” said Lake. “We’re deeply concerned about the impact on safety, traffic, infrastructure, green space, and property values, and we believe this decision deserves legal scrutiny.” .“Home values could be impacted, with estimated losses ranging from tens of thousands of dollars to over $100,000, particularly for properties adjacent to the development site.” The group is equally unhappy, perhaps moreso, about the engagement process with the city and the developer, Mintos Communities. “The developer performed an engagement with our community and so I attended,” said Lake. “There were virtual sessions and in-person sessions where the representatives on behalf of Mintos presented their proposal. There were slides and there was information that was being shared, but we do not believe that any of our feedback was taken into consideration.” “The City of Calgary did not organize any formal community engagement for this development,” added Lake. The proposed redevelopment would add up to 1,500 homes in an eight-building complex, including three 16-storey towers along the west side of Crowchild Tr., immediately south of Richmond Rd. SW. The area’s infrastructure is very old, said Lake. “The area's current water and sewage infrastructure is nearly 100 years old and operates below full capacity,” she said. “Despite requests for updated infrastructure reports, the community has yet to receive any assurances that the existing system can support the significant increase in residents.” .A major obstacle of the site is a decidedly lack of access and egress. There is no access to Crowchild Tr. from Richmond Rd., so construction traffic, including heavy machinery, and large trucks, will only be able to get to the site by travelling one of two routes: south on 25 St. from 17 Ave. S.W. or; taking the 33 Ave. exit off Crowchild Tr., travelling west on 33 to 29 St., then east on Richmond Rd., creating excessive traffic in primarily residential areas not close to the construction site. Lake returns to the lack of consultation and the lecturing rather than listening. “I don't think we’ve been heard, and it felt like it was one way,” she said. “They were sharing information, they were pushing information out, but I don't think our concerns were fully considered in the current proposal.” N4RKH is not opposed to development, saying the site needs to be developed, but the process is flawed city-wide. “This issue is representative of a larger trend in our city’s development, like it or not,” said Lake. “So, while our appeal targets the rezoning of this specific site of Viscount Bennett, this issue is happening city-wide, so we’re challenging a broader pattern of high-density developments being approved without proper planning or meaningful engagement.” .“We believe the decision was procedurally flawed, and our legal team agrees. That’s why we've filed a judicial review.” “This legal appeal seeks to establish a standard that ensures future growth in Calgary is responsibly planned and considers the community's perspectives,” adds Lake. “What is happening here could happen in your community next.” N4RKH is funding the legal review and seeking support from across the city with a fund-raising campaign on-line, with 100% of funds raised supporting its actions. You can help by going to www.givesendgo.com/richmondknobhilln4rkh “I don't know that we’ll stop the development, but our hope is to move the needle towards a model of good planning,” says Lake.
