I am very proud to be a resident of 49 years of this fine city. I have watched St. Albert grow from a small town to the booming metropolis it now is. Herein lies my concern (and in total agreement with Tony Kryzanowski).
Yes, people need a place to live and yes, it is a natural and good thing for a city to grow and prosper, however at what cost? This city is busting at the seams with exponential residential growth. City council must take a more modest and tactful approach to how our city is developing. The infrastructure has not had a chance to keep up with the booming population — too much, too fast. St. Albert needs a stronger retail, commercial and industrial base, not only to accommodate the existing population, but also to take the load off of the existing residential taxpayers.
We need an equal balance to the growth of our city, not the current housing plan that is smothering the city's core like a plague. Why does our city council keep dishing out the land development permits to developers?
Perhaps there should be a vote to see if the citizens of St. Albert may be in favour of a moratorium on residential growth, at least until things have a chance to balance out. If Jasper can do it, why not St. Albert?
Marcel Sieben, St. Albert
