Controversial Canmore development shot down by town council - Action News
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Controversial Canmore development shot down by town council

A solid "no" to a hotly debated development in the rocky mountain town of Canmore, Alta on Tuesday night. Its council voted unanimously against the Peaks of Grassi which would have built 20 residential homes in the scenic community west of Calgary.

Accusations of bullying and intimdation over residential proposal

The proposed plan for the Peaks of Grassi development includes a mix of single-family detached homes, duplexes and secondary suites. (Town of Canmore)

A controversial residential development in Canmore west of Calgary was unanimously rejected Tuesday nightby its town council.

The Peaks ofGrassiinfill development was to be built on roughly one and a half hectares (four acres)of land in the existing neighbourhood of the same name in the southwest part of town.

The plan, which called for20 residential units includingsingle-familydetached homes, duplexes and secondary suites,has been a very popular and heated subject in the area for months.

During themeeting, at least two council members talked about the bitter debate over the plan and how it divided theusually quiet mountaintown.the

Steve Hrudey, one of the Canmore residents opposed to the development, says the debate got nasty.

"We were bullied by cartoons in the newspaper. Someone at the public hearing talked about mob rule," Hrudey said.

Coun.Esme Comfort says she too felt intimidated and bullied during the process.

A lack of low-cost housing was one of the concerns raised by council.

Mayor John Borrowman says the Peaks of Grassi development would have strayedtoo much from previous plans for theneighbourhood.

"Once we're done with the bylaw it's out of our hands, so then really the units could sell for any price and to people that aren't needing housing to live and work in Canmore,"he said.

The area is zoned as anurban reserve so, according to Borrowman, there is nothing to prevent owners and supporters from filing a new application for development.