Fireside community residents are fighting to keep the small-town feel in Cochrane by opposing a potential six-storey building.
Points West Living is proposing to build a six-storey seniors living building beside Highway 22, off of Fireside Gate in the Fireside community.
Residents voiced their concerns at an open house in the community room at Cochrane Toyota last week – ranging from emergency service access, increased traffic and “losing that small-town feel.”
Organizers did not want to “reveal too much” of their arguments before the appeal scheduled for next week, but wanted to make it clear that they do not oppose a seniors living building.
“(Residents) think we are against a seniors living complex, that is not the issue, the issue is the height,” said Christina MacLean, fireside resident.
“We don’t want this building to set a precedent in Cochrane that it is OK to build tall buildings – the town will start to lose that ‘small town feel’.”
One of the attendees made the comment that if he wanted to live in Calgary, he would “move back to Calgary.”
Developers said they chose the height to be six-storeys due to the density and market availability, while also noting that the zoning permit allows for up to eight storeys if approved.
Laurie Drukier, senior communications adviser with the town, said while the zoning permit has the potential to allow up to eight-storey buildings, the building would have to be approved by the Development Authority, which has the power to limit the size or capacity of any proposed building.
Doug Mills, chief executive officer of the development, said the company has tried to work with the neighbouring community.
“We did everything we could to mitigate the issues and work with residents, from moving the building to the farthest south corner to lessen the impact, creating underground parking and adding green space,” Mills explained.
“We are looking forward to presenting our case.”
The developer is set to go in front of the Subdivision and Development Appeal Board appeal board on June 20 at 6 p.m. at the council chambers at Cochrane RancheHouse, located at 101 RancheHouse Road.
