In mid-July, we learned that the anticipated sale had been completed, confirming that Geo-Energy Enterprises Inc. is now the official owner of the Shaw-Nee Slopes golf course.  We also know - courtesy of a CBC radio news story - that the new owner plans to file a rezoning application with the City Planning Commission in September.  What this undoubtedly means for our community is a resumption of the concerns expressed during SECA Town Hall meetings, our community association website, monthly newsletters and feedback from you. 

We expect a long and frustrating battle with a developer who appears convinced that City Hall will rubber stamp their application to bulldoze our beautiful green community and replace it with non descript high density housing and retail services.  However, there is due process that both parties must follow, even though we are the unfortunate victims of a developer whose intention is to exploit and destroy the golf course for their financial benefit. 
 
SECA will oppose any green space re-zoning application on behalf of the community. We will lobby our elected officials to ensure they support our position, values and needs.  It was the City that originally approved Shawnee-Evergreen less than 25 years ago on the basis of creating a golf course community.  Circumstances have not altered that would necessitate a rezoning change sharply reducing green space. We are a relatively young community and - despite recent propaganda to the contrary - our community was not targeted for TOD (Transit Oriented Development) nor does Plan-It Calgary intend to develop over existing green space. We are confident that sanity will prevail as the issues are addressed by City Council in the coming years.  As our Alderman, Diane Colley-Urquhart recently summarized: “they may have bought themselves a park.”

Please join us at the upcoming AGM where we will elect the Board that will lead the struggle against this unwarranted rezoning application.

Respectfully submitted,
Gloria Dingwall
President
Shawnee-Evergreen Community Association

It is critical that as many of our board, LUC and community residents as possible attend Plan-It open houses.  The first is this Saturday, May 23, Noon - 3:PM at St. Mary's College University.  It is evident to me that the City believes Plan-It is a done deal, that is why there is such a rush to get it through Council without any policy of engagement of our communities.  If Plan-It gets the green light, we know that it paves the way for Geo-Energy's development of the golf course (they have already cited Plan-It as their rationale for development of the golf course).  We must make every possible effort to stop Plan-It from going ahead in its current format.  Evidently Linda Fox-Mellway will be at St Mary's College on Saturday - I don't know what time she is planning to be there but we need to bend her ear on this and let her know that we do not support Plan-It Calgary. I encourage all members of our board and community residents to write to the aldermen and mayor stating that they are against the reduction of choice of housing, affordability and mobility that Plan-It will bring if the plan is implemented.
 
These plans will have a significant impact on the future form, function and quality of life of the city.  Let's do our part to prevent this from happening.

More information is available at; http://www.udicalgary.com/  and http://www.cato.org/pub_display.php?pub_id=8463

Gloria Dingwall
Shawnee-Evergreen President