Dear Neighbours,
Recently a letter to the editor was published titled “Selfish in St. Albert”. This letter attempts to paint citizens in opposition to the construction of multiple towers in Oakmont as selfish. This is a common refrain pitched by developers to create a simple binary argument. They imply that if you are not for the project, you are simply selfish and hate change. If we are reduced to "high density good" and "low density bad", then the logical extension is to rid ourselves of all parks and green spaces and put up high rises in their place which is obviously absurd. It removes any intelligent debate of the manifold ramifications of such a large-scale project.
The letter further suggests that residents should be happy that a developer is “willing” to take on such an endeavour, as though it is a selfless pursuit. Understand that this is purely a business deal and the primary goal of business is to maximize profit. It is ultimately up to our elected representatives to determine whether the positive aspects far outweigh the negative. It is up to us as citizens to inform city council of our concerns.
The mega proposal to build two 26-storey and one 11-storey towers next to the Sturgeon River on top of a mature community is hardly inconsequential. The author fails to acknowledge that two multi-storey structures have already been built on this site. Only one of the buildings is currently occupied and it is having a negative impact on traffic congestion. This not only affects residents from St. Albert, but also extends to residents of Sturgeon County ... the same place the author suggests moving to, to avoid this project.
Increased traffic congestion is only one thing. If constructed, these structures would affect our essential services, safety, the environment, and our quality of life. I struggle to keep my response brief as each aspect requires lengthy investigation. If you wish to go beyond simple slogans you can learn more by visiting http://chng.it/LS56fXLX. To date, nearly 1,700 of your fellow citizens have taken the time to sign their names in opposition to this proposal. Thanks and good health to all! Stay safe.
Jeff Hayman, St. Albert
