Do you realize that our mayor and city councillors have allocated $840,000 of our hard-earned tax dollars toward the acquisition of 70 Arlington Dr. from St. Albert Protestant Schools?
This land is no longer being considered for a school, for which it is zoned. The Protestant district has clear title of this land, after spending only $1 dollar for it, though according to the Municipal Government Act the city has a say in what ultimately happens to it. Are we not in a deficit situation in our fair city? Why then would our elected officials be so willing to give away our property tax dollars?
Arlington Drive is an extremely busy road which is often plagued with high volumes of traffic, not to mention the speeders that continually use this road as a race track. We know of two families that have moved due to fear that their children were in danger because of this. Common sense tells us that an additional 58 townhouse units would only further increase this already dangerous situation. I have almost been run over countless times in crossing Arlington at a crosswalk marked by a walk sign.
It should also be noted that the residents that border this land have already had 10 feet of their properties shorted compared to the standard lots in the area, the reason being that they supposedly border on parkland. Overflow parking from the 58 units would undoubtedly spill onto Arlington, further adding to the congestion.
As 20-year residents here, we find, although limited, our south Akinsdale green space is very enjoyable. We all know that with the Henday ring road practically going through our backyards that we need to preserve our parks and green spaces. We have seen our town grow into a city, and we realize that once these green spaces are gone, they are gone for good! We’ll never get it back, we’ll never turn back the clock. Too many things in life go that way, let us not let that happen here.
We feel that our tax dollars must be spent in more needed areas, not just given away. This is an outrage.
Penny Gardner, St. Albert
