Pleased by Bremner delay
This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.
I find it appalling that the councillors are worried about hurting the reputation with the builders, but have no qualms about saddling the people of the county with an enormous debt. To whom are they catering?
There is so much building going on that it makes only sense to wait and see. The 2016 Canada Census registered 98’044 people and according to the internet, in 2022 we were sitting at 100,362 inhabitants. That’s an increase of 2,318 people in six years. How much will the next six years add to the population? Nobody knows. So using a bit restraint in this department only makes sense.
Thank you Ward 3 Coun. Lorne Harvey for being the one vote who put a stop to this project. Like you said, lets see what happens with Cambrian first bevor we have a glut of houses and no buyers.
This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.
Priska Strickler, Sherwood Park
Council has experienced a reset
Re: “Flip vote on council stalls beginning of Bremner development”, The News’ May 4 edition
Thank you council! Thank you, Ward 3 Coun. Lorne Harvey for listening, asking questions, and making a judicious decision. Thanks to the many people who’ve worked toward this outcome. Council heard you and understood: Now is not the time to develop Bremner.
I realize there hasn’t been a reversal, but the negative impacts of developing Bremner have been acknowledged, and that’s a very good start. But it’s just a start.
A better future for Bremner is possible, but that’s contingent upon a course correction. It’s time to implement the Agriculture Master Plan and follow the recommendations of the Agricultural Impact Assessment, the purpose of which is to “address a proposed development’s effects on existing and future agricultural activities and recommend mitigation measures.” A tool tailor-made for Bremner.
When there are firm policies and bylaws in place, there is a blueprint to follow each time a development question arises. The “slash and burn” approach of the past, that has resulted in cookie cutter neighborhoods, gobbling up the best land, isn’t inevitable.
Council has the power, granted to them by voters and spelled out in the MGA “.. to set the overall direction of the municipality through (their) role as policy-makers. These policies … are the guidelines for administration to follow.” Council, not developers or administration, has the power to control the timing of development. And, after weighing the costs of Bremner; the impact on taxes, reserves, and already identified capital priorities, they exercised that power.
There has never been a more divisive issue for council. But now there’s been a reset, and we have a chance to do things differently. It’s time to put any rancour aside and unify behind a council decision which clearly has the support of taxpayers.
Lois Gordon, Bremner
This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.
Re: “Flip vote on council stalls beginning of Bremner development”, The News’ May 4 edition
The potential financial and ecological disaster that was the Bremner residential development has at last been laid to rest, at least for a few years, but it was a near thing.The required bylaws were defeated on third reading by a single vote.
County residents and taxpayers are indebted to Councillor Harvey who, unlike many of his colleagues, took the time to research the cost and benefits and then to canvass residents in both his own and neighbouring wards for their views.The conclusions were clear and Harvey withdrew his support, a courageous decision in view of manifest hostility and aggression by some of his peers.
One can only wonder at the reasons why there should have been any support on Council for this absurd project. If failed on every level: social, economic, and environmental. It appears to have been driven by a toxic blend of ideology, ignorance, and cynical self-interest.
This episode should remind us of the dangers of complacency at election time. We have a right to a Council whose members respect voters’ interests and understand fiduciary responsibility, in short, councillors with integrity.It is our responsibility to select elected officials most likely to meet these standards.
This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.
Alan Dunn, Sherwood Park
Respect election signage
I have noticed defaced and destroyed campaign signs while driving. I think people need to be reminded that it is against the law to participate in such activities and that democracy depends on healthy debate amongst the people with different views as well as respecting the rights of the other to disagree, without this childish behaviour.
Vote as you please, but please vote and respect your fellow citizens. Our way of life depends on this.
Trudi Dunham, Sherwood Park
If you’d like to write a Letter to the Editor, please email it to Editor Lindsay Morey: lmorey@postmedia.com.
Please limit word count to 400 words, and include your full name, address, and contact phone number. Letters are due no later than noon on Mondays in order to meet press deadline for the Thursday edition. Letters can be edited for length, brevity, language, etc, as well as refused on the basis of slander, etc. Letters printed in the Sherwood Park News do not reflect the opinions of the local newsroom.