Alderman Diane Colley-Urquhart will be hosting a update open house regarding the Shawnee golf course on September 15^th from 6 to 8pm at the Peace Lutheran Church.  

Anthony Masleck, B.A.
Executive Assistant
Alderman Diane Colley-Urquhart
Ward 13
[phone]: 403-268-1624
[fax]: 403-268-8091
[email]: eaward13@calgary.ca

Joint message from Alderman Diane Colley-Urquhart and Shawnee-Evergreen Community Association (SECA) President Gloria Dingwall
We want to take this opportunity before the summer break, to bring you up-to-date on the latest information regarding the re-zoning application for the Shaw-Nee Slopes Golf Course. The news is encouraging.

‪As you know, the City of Calgary planning department received Geo-Energy’s application to rezone Shaw-Nee Slopes Golf Course for residential and commercial redevelopment in November 2009.  The Applicant had to do further work on the application before it was complete and the City in turn undertook a mail out in May 2010 to seek community feedback. Alderman Diane co-hosted an Open House in mid-June with over 450 people attending. This strong ongoing community support is appreciated and important.
 
‪In late June, City Administration provided AECOM (Geo-Energy’s planning/engineering firm) with the first round of formal feedback on their application. We have reviewed this extensive and comprehensive document and are very pleased with its level of detail. The 23 page Detailed Team Response (DTR) from City Administration, lists 156 items that must be addressed to the City’s satisfaction in written form before the application can move forward. This does not include comments/requirements about traffic both within, and outside, of the proposed development which are yet to come. It is clear from Administration’s response that all of the community concerns are justified and have been heard.

The plans we have seen to date have left many unanswered questions, and raises even more.

‪The City’s feedback essentially sends the Applicant “back to the drawing board.”  There are major concerns such as, but not limited to: open space, placement of homes, roads that cut through wetlands, density, and proximity to Fish Creek Park. The applicant is also required to do additional studies.
 
The bottom line is that this list will require the developer to invest a great deal of additional time and money to address all 156 items. The DTR will certainly influence Geo-Energy’s next steps.

‪City Administration must give every applicant the opportunity to respond and comply with all applicable standards, only then do they look at the proposal in terms of its impact on the community and how it fits within the larger Area Structure Plan. After that, City Administration makes a recommendation to the City Planning Commission, who makes a technical recommendation to Council. A Public Hearing of Council is then held whereby any resident can come forward to speak in favour or against the application.

‪The ball is in Geo-Energy’s court for now, and the work to be done is considerable. In the meantime, the Shawnee-Evergreen Community Association is continuing to fight the application on all fronts.

In conclusion, we’d like to thank the 400+ residents who took the time to email or write the City with their feedback and the 385 residents who attended the City’s Open House. The comments and concerns raised by the community were reflected in the City’s Detailed Team Response. Your input makes a difference. 
‪Sincerely,

Diane Colley-Urquhart
Alderman, Ward 13

‪Gloria Dingwall
President, Shawnee-Evergreen Community Association

This well prepared document clearly states your community board's position on the rezoning application of our green space. I would like to thank all those residents that went out of their way to help prepare this document. When you have the whole community on side it sure makes these tasks a lot easier. Very well done everybody!! Please take the time to read it.

SECA response to file LOC2010-0005.pdf (1.34 mb)

One of our Shawnee residents posted views of the proposed dramatic changes to the ShawNee Golf Course. This could be a precedent setting for the City of Calgary consuming green space for housing developments. if you are interested in keeping one of Calgary's green spaces and the golf course please email your Alderman or post your comments below.

Community residents receive important package in the mail

On Friday, April 16, some residents received a package from the City asking for their feedback on Geo-Energy's application to rezone the golf course land from recreational to residential/commercial use. It was sent to "adjacent land owners", but it's not clear who this includes. We asked for a list, but have not yet received this information.

We are asking ALL residents to comment

Whether you got a package in the mail or not, if you live in Shawnee Slopes or Evergreen Estates, your opinion counts! Please take a moment to read the attached form entitled "Request for Comment on Application" and send your comments. NOTE: Many residents sent emails/letters to the mayor, aldermen etc. last year and we appreciate it! However, they are not considered your "official comment." Therefore please resend your comments (with changes if required) to the 3 email addresses below.

Deadline

Your comments must be received by the City no later than Friday, May 28. Please allow time for delivery if you are sending a letter.

The comment form is confusing. Here's how and where you send your comments...

The easiest way to send comments is by email. Please remember to:

• Put the file number in the subject line: LOC2010-0005
• List your name and address.
• Clearly state whether you support or object to the application.

Send the same email to three addresses:

• darren.todd@calgary.ca
• shawneeevergreen@shaw.ca
• dcolley@calgary.ca  (our alderman was not listed on the Request for Comment Application, but she has asked to be included)

If you send an email, you do not have to send in the "Request for Comment on Application" letter.

If you are not an experienced computer user and need help, call Peter Snell, SECA Treasurer/Membership Director at (403) 254-6660, and he'll be happy to assist.

If you prefer to send your comments by Canada Post, the addresses are listed below. (They are not listed in the package from the City, which is an oversight.) We assume you will need to sign and send in the form. Leave the space for "agency" blank, or write "resident."

Down load and printable from: Request for Comment.pdf (56.55 kb)

 Darren Todd

Lead Planner, New Community & Subdivision Services                                                                                                                                    Mail Code 8117                                                                                                                                                                                                         PO Box 2100, Station M                                                                                                                                                                                            Calgary, AB  T2P 2M5

Shawnee-Evergreen Community Association
1058 Shawnee Road SW
Calgary, AB  T2Y 1W5

Alderman Diane Colley-Urquhart
PO Box 2100, Station M

Calgary, AB  T2P 2M5

For more information

The full package is available on the SECA website at www.shawnee-evergreen.net. Please note that it's very short and provides no new information. Notably, we still have nothing about the traffic study. The documents are large and may take awhile to download.

Spread the word

Send this email to all your neighbours! They may not be on our distribution list and it's essential they receive this information.

And if you know someone in the community who is not computer savvy, download this email and the "Request for Comment on Application Form" for them. That's all they need to express their opinion. Every one counts!

Fund Raising

For those of you who were at the SECA Town Hall meeting last Wednesday, you will know that the “kick-off” of our Fund Raising campaign was met with an enthusiastic response. Approximately 200 pledge forms were handed out and we have already received pledges or funds of over $10,000. The cost to fight the rezoning application has been estimated at over $100,000 which will help pay for a lawyer and traffic consultant. We are asking homeowners whose property is directly adjacent to the golf course to contribute $500 or more and other community members to contribute $100 or more. Any amount will help! And funds not used in the fight will be returned to individual homeowners who contributed.

 If you have a pledge form, please complete it and email it to peter.snell@shaw.ca or mail it to 1058 Shawnee Road SW Calgary AB T2Y 1W5. If you do not have a pledge form it is available at our web site www.shawnee-evergreen.net or by calling Peter at (403) 254-660. Attached pledge form: Contribution_Pledge Form.pdf (198.47 kb)

 Membership Renewal

Membership in your community association is important for two reasons:

1) It provides funds to hold events like Town Hall meetings and the annual pancake breakfast, and

2) The more memberships our community has, the stronger and more united we look in the eyes of the City.

Current memberships expire April 30, 2010. We already have over 100 renewals but we need everyone onboard. It’s easy to purchase or renew a membership by mailing a cheque for $20.00 payable to “SECA” (Shawnee-Evergreen Community Association). Drop it in the mail to SECA c/o Peter Snell, 1058 Shawnee Road SW Calgary AB T2Y 1W5.

Peter Snell for Gloria Dingwall

President                                                                                                                                                                                                              Shawnee-Evergreen Community Association