Pictures were taken at 2:00 pm on Wednesday April 29, 2009 at the Fish Creek LRT Station. Where did all the vehicles go? I would like to see the trend continue letting City Hall know that the parking fee at this point in this economic down turn is ridiculous.

On Monday, September 22, 2008 the Calgary City Council approved the Shawnee / Evergreen Community Traffic Management Plan for implementation.  As part of the plan, community traffic management measures are scheduled for construction commencing on May 4, 2009 pending The City contractor’s schedule and weather permitting. 

During the construction phase of these new traffic management measures, restrictions on local roadways may be required including:
* Speed limit reductions
* Temporary loss of on-street parking
* Lane closures or partial road closures
* Restricted access to driveways.  If a driveway is restricted, residents will be given at least 24 hours notice.

View the complete information; Traffic Calming.pdf (1.97 mb)

Huntly Johnston, Fish Creek Conservation Officier is interested in receiving information regarding sightings of Bobcats. Specifically I would like time of day, date and location as well any information regarding what they were doing and how many. I have a reporting form that I will attach. As part of the research we have conducted so far we have confirmed at least four individuals using the park through use of wildlife cameras. The information I am gathering will be used to help us learn what areas of the park they are using and hopefully guide any future management plans in the park. If any community residents have photographs of Bobcats (only from the park) and are willing to share this would be helpful as well. I would also like to add that Bobcats are usually evasive and not likely to be a public safety threat. Any sightings of cougars, bears or moose are a concern and should be reported as well.I have been working with researchers from the University of Calgary who are doing a pilot study. Attached is the form to be used for documenting Bobcat sightings. Bobcat Monitoring Form.pdf (43.69 kb)

Huntley Johnston
Conservation Officer
Fish Creek District
Tourism, Parks and Recreation
Box 2780  Calgary, Alberta T2P 0Y8
Phone: (403) 297-5293  Fax (403) 297-5284
www.fish-creek.org

The Shawnee Evergreen Community Association (SECA) is not prepared at this time to support Plan-it Calgary. Ours reasons are as follows:

• We have not had enough time to review and formulate an appropriate response to this massive document. The city took a number of years to prepare yet they expect a volunteer board made up of lay people to respond in a few weeks. This is clearly unfair.
• We don't understand the rush to finalize Plan-it Calgary.  While the plan acknowledges “Growth Costs Money” we suggest another old saying “Haste Makes Waste” would be as appropriate.

Our community supports many of the principles and broad goals contained within Plan-it Calgary. Our Community supported high density development around the Fish Creek Lacombe LRT station (TOD supportive) when we supported the Highbury Condominium project. SECA has shown we are not a NIMBY community. However we are concerned that there has been no discussion and clearly not contained within the document what these principles may cost. We cannot support these goals without some idea of what they may cost. We recognize that we the taxpayer and/or the user will pay for them.

Calgary is a winter city and this year’s record snowfalls made for many icy sidewalks and treacherous walks to the LRT station. There were a number of our residents who slipped and fell despite diligent shoveling up by our residents (incidentally the City was not as diligent). So when the plan talks about walkable cities we must balance that with the understanding we are a winter city and walking and cycling to work may not be appropriate for many months of the year.

Furthermore we do not believe that the city of Calgary can afford a transit system that has the frequency and routes necessary to service our diverse employment areas. Not all Calgarians work downtown where the LRT services. We have the Airport and Foothills industrial areas that have limited bus service as well as the University and Foothills Hospital employment districts. The cost to provide for a predominantly transit oriented system that might encourage people to get out of their car will be too expensive for Calgarians.

We support the planet Calgary's position to maintain healthy and sustainable habitats and maintaining and expanding the green space within the existing neighborhoods. We are concerned when we hear developers use Plan-it Calgary as an excuse to remove our existing green space (Shawnee Golf Course) in the name of increased density and profit. Plan-it Calgary should protect community open space.

We are very concerned about the city's apparent experiment in social engineering. What concerns us is that the city is trying to force Calgarians and the Real Estate marketplace to move into non-traditional housing choices. We believe in choice but a full range of choices.

SECA may support balanced growth and diversity in residential housing choices but not at the cost of forcing people out of the city or into housing that is beyond their means or not appropriate for the lifestyle needs. Furthermore we are concerned that if the city of Calgary does not provide variety of housing types surrounding communities will and Calgary will still be faced with the responsibility and costs of providing for traffic solutions and services for people beyond our boundaries. And the worst part about it is we will be paying the cost and gaining none of the tax benefits.

With regard to transportation choices we support improved public transit but not at the risk of crippling the road network. Not everyone works downtown where public transit is concentrated. Calgary has the airport industrial and the foothills industrial that are predominantly heavy truck, rail or airport oriented. Reducing travel time by putting homes closer to work will not work with many of our employment districts so a strong road network is critical for moving people and goods throughout our City.

What concerns us most is that there have been no costs associated with these visions. While it is important for plans to provide direction – these plans must also be tempered with realism and cost estimates and an understanding of Calgarians willingness to buy into them.

The SECA board would urge our Alderman and other Alderman to reject Plan-it Calgary at this time – send it back to the Administration for more study and costing and then and only then might we supports the plan.