01 August 2010
☚ Click Left For Municipal Election Forum
07/08/2010 06:46
No Words Needed:
Curry In A Hurry
It’s right by Terra Pines golf course on the corner of highway 2 and highway 37.
Limited menu, BUT if you call (780-460-2163) about 20 minutes ahead, it should be ready when you get there.
All home made food, quite mild by my standards, but you can request it to be hot or mild.
We have tried beef samosas, butter chicken and the goat curry, all good, fresh, home made food. Curry is served with rice and a small nan bread.
Like many good eateries is not much to look at but . . .
Geordie
St. Albert
SINC SAYS:
Well folks, I can’t say I’m a fan of any type of curry, but when a reader recommends a restaurant, they’re usually right.
A Real Man . . .
He will reassure her when she feels insecure and comfort her after a bad day.
He will inspire her to do things she never thought she could do; to live without fear and forget regret.
He will enable her to express her deepest emotions and give in to her most intimate desires.
He will make sure she always feels as though she's the most beautiful woman in the room and will enable her to be the most confident, sexy, seductive, and invincible . . . No wait ... sorry ... I'm thinking of wine.
Never mind.
WEBBITS
07/08/2010 06:46
A roundup of bits from the web:
* Cancellations: Boeing’s Dreamliner orders go negative for 2010.
* Sky Glider Stuck At State Fair.
* Man arrested after wife writes to Obama asking for help.
* Mother With Wet T-Shirt Arrested.
* Lady Gaga went to geek camp, too.
* Baby Declared Dead Revives Inside Coffin.
Store Refuses To Sell British Soldier A Beer
07/08/2010 06:46
Seems if you are a British soldier fresh back from the front in Afghanistan, some folks back home don’t appreciate your service.
How is that you ask?
Well, they refused him service.
All the poor guy wanted was a few beers, something he had not had in months, but the store refused to sell it to him.
Why?
Because he was in uniform.
The Wisdom Of Will Rogers
07/08/2010 06:46
Why don't they pass a constitutional amendment prohibiting anybody from learning anything? If it works as well as prohibition did, in five years Americans would be the smartest race of people on Earth.
Worrying is like paying on a debt that may never come due.
You can't say civilization don't advance... in every war they kill you in a new way.
You've got to go out on a limb sometimes because that's where the fruit is.
The Mother Of All Parking Tickets
07/08/2010 06:46
A female cop in Seattle noticed a car parked overtime, but let it slide.
Then a couple of hours later noticed the same car still parked in the same position.
She noticed the guy inside was asleep, so she wrote him a ticket and went about her business.
Sounds bad doesn’t it?
It got worse.
He was dead.
☚ Click Left For Municipal Election Forum
06/08/2010 06:26
Bits ’N Pieces From Our Readers
Do you think city administration all jumped on their computers and were able to “dilute” the Gazette poll on a DARP plebiscite from around 83 per cent in favor of a plebiscite to around 72 per cent in favor now?
Cheers,
Jim
_________________________
So, Did We Make It?
That is, set another peak count for postings, on a holiday weekend?
I think that's what happened on the last one.
As for the weenies on the Chatango page . . .
Bixman
St. Albert
____________________
Don,
Here's a solution to all the controversy over full-body scanners at the airports.
Have a booth that you can step into that will not X-ray you, but will detonate any explosive device you may have on you.
It would be a win-win for everyone, and there would be none of this crap about racial profiling and this method would eliminate a long and expensive trial. Justice would be quick and swift. Case closed!
This is so simple that it's brilliant. I can see it now: you're in the airport terminal and you hear a muffled explosion.
Shortly thereafter an announcement comes over the PA system, "Attention standby passengers we now have a seat available on flight number . . ."
Works for me!
George Proulx
St. Albert
SINC SAYS:
Keep ‘em coming folks, we love to hear from our readers.
A Video Request From Our Readers
Every so often we get a request from a reader to run a video we’ve run before. Such is the case with this video, sent in by three of you this week alone.
Welcome To Live Chat
06/08/2010 06:26
WEBBITS
06/08/2010 06:26
* Cross-dressers sentenced to 30 lashes.
* Stop washing raw chicken, food agency advises.
* Google and Verizon Near Deal on Pay Tier for Web.
* Sheriff witnesses two girls exposing breasts to him and other motorists; man arrested for taking pictures.
* Burglar caught breaking into house a second time, claims he was leaving a thank-you note.
50 Year UFO Cover-Up Ordered By Churchill
06/08/2010 06:26
We never miss a good UFO yarn here on SAP and today is no different.
Way back when, British PM Winston Churchill ordered a cover-up to last some 50 years.
But why are governments so leery of any information on UFOs getting to the public?
It’s not like people haven’t noticed them flying around, is it?
Or are they even out there?
More Stupid Law Enforcement Tricks
06/08/2010 06:26
The long arm of the law catches up with many folks over time.
But sometimes, the long arm of the law is an ass, as in this case in Oregon.
One small business owner, who was holding a fund raiser at the business in aid of cancer, was shut down for not having a license.
She was 7 and had a lemonade stand.
All Those Bits And Pieces Won’t Tan
06/08/2010 06:26
If you are a sun worshipper and want that perfect, all over tan, you won’t get it no matter how hard you try.
A university study in the UK has found that some of those “bits” just won’t tan.
They are left as white spots, no matter how hard you try.
Bad news indeed for nudists.
☚ Click Left For Municipal Election Forum
05/08/2010 05:36
Changing Council Members Will Have No Effect
I have lived in St. Albert since 1973. In fact when I owned a business in this town, I sold you a 5 HP Homelite riding mower.
In the early 70's town council decided that St. Albert should be a very prestigious town and proceeded to create zoning that would require developers to build on large lots and have them provided large green spaces. At that time, the house size was on average 1200 sq. ft. I could not afford to live here now if I hadn't moved here in 73.
I have a son living in St. Albert. He is the sole breadwinner and supports a wife and three children. With an income of $100,000.00 per year he lives from paycheque to paycheque. I have another son who does not live here because costs are too high. I also have a daughter who lives in Edmonton because costs in St. Albert are too high.
The only choice St. Albert has, is to develop low cost housing. Changing the members of council will not help, the die has been cast. I cannot believe that any new member will stick his neck out far enough to make changes.
Don Andrich
St. Albert
SINC SAYS:
Well Don, your observations are certainly astute and having a son with a wife and child living here in St. Albert, I can tell you his existence is much the same as your boy. One other thing. My rider mower was a 12 HP Ariens, so it is unlikely you sold it to me as I bought it in Fort McMurray before I moved here back in 1988.
We’ve Got The Scoop On The Poop!
Don:
On a lighter note - I guess - thought I'd pass one to you what ONE seagull did to my favourite sport-coat in downtown Victoria, B.C., a few days ago. I am back in St. Albert now and looking forward to the expressions on the faces of the staff at the dry cleaners.
The photo called the enemy is a random gull and not the one, as far as I know, that did the damage. That bird, presumably, was about the size of a small Volkswagen.
David J Climenhaga
St. Albert
SINC SAYS:
I’ll be right back folks, right now I can’t stop laughing.
The Victim:
The Enemy:
Welcome To Live Chat
05/08/2010 05:36
WEBBITS
05/08/2010 05:36
* Seattle City Council OKs closing-time tickets.
* Naked Man Beaten Outside Richmond Bar.
* Bolivia court upholds seizure or U.S. Man’s ranch.
* Cancer cells slurp up fructose, study finds.
* Whooping cough cases continue to rise in California.
* Bill Cosby’s not dead, says Bill Cosby.
Some Still Scream For Ice Cream
05/08/2010 05:36
Now here is a yarn about ice cream that will make you think.
If you consider other foods, like burgers or fries or whatever, our tastes have changed over the years, as have the condiments we use on them.
But how about ice cream? Isn’t it the same old, same old, year after year?
Maybe.
But maybe not.
A Warning About Taser Use Issued
05/08/2010 05:36
With all the incidents of people dying when they are tasered by the police, finally a police department has issued a warning to heed.
And it is about time too, if you ask most folks.
I mean if it can kill people, should its use not be restricted?
Good on the cops in Anchorage, Alaska.
But wait just a minute.
They don’t want you to taser bears.
The Hazards Of Doing Your Laundry
05/08/2010 05:36
RCMP in Prince George recently conducted a laundry investigation which would up being destined for the gang unit.
Those darn gangs apparently just can’t get doing their laundry right.
Why else would they send one of their weapons to the laundry in their sock?
That’s right, in a sock.
☚ Click Left For Municipal Election Forum
04/08/2010 07:27
SATA Letter Attempts To Stop DARP Approval
July 15, 2010
Capital Region Board
1405 Bell Tower
10104 – 103 Ave.,
Edmonton, AB
T5J 0H8
Attention: Mr. C. Sheard
Interim Chair, Capital Region Board
Dear Sir:
Re: City of St. Albert
DARP Submission
I am writing to you on behalf of the St. Albert Taxpayers Association (SATA), to voice our concerns about City of St. Albert Downtown Area Redevelopment Plan (DARP), recently submitted for review by the Capital Region Board as part of the Regional Evaluation Framework (REF).
Following is a list of our concerns:
1. The Downtown Area Redevelopment Plan presented to St. Albert taxpayers did not contain any cost estimates. Based on the scope of the Plan, one can only infer that total price tag for the project could be in the hundreds of millions of dollars
2. The Plan did not include a marketing analysis of St. Albert’s potential market for high density residential development. We believe the proposed net residential density, projected at 238 net residential units per hectare, is grossly overstated
3. The Plan did not include a retail market analysis to confirm that the Plan would support the projected growth in commercial development
4. Stakeholder consultations were primarily confined to targeted groups which, promoting self-interest, support the Plan. There is no evidence to indicate that the broader cross-section of St. Albert’s residential and non-residential taxpayers support the Plan
5. The Public Hearing process, chaired by Mayor Nolan Crouse started on July 5th, will continue on August 16th. In our opinion, since the Mayor and other Council members support the Plan, the Hearing lacks objectivity. The Mayor has stated that he expects the Bylaw authorizing the Plan to be passed on August 16th.
6. To date, calls to hold a referendum on the issue during the October 18th Municipal Election have gone unanswered.
Under the circumstances, we ask the Capital Region Board to reject City of St. Albert application to implement the Downtown Area Redevelopment Plan (DARP).
The St. Albert Taxpayers Association is a registered non-profit organization formed in 2008. The organization is dedicated to influencing the policies and spending decisions of St. Albert’s City Council and Administration to ensure reduced waste, sustainable spending and more accountable municipal government. You can find more information about the Association on its website at www.stalberttaxpayers.org/
Yours truly,
Lynda Flannery
President
Cc: Mayor Nolan Crouse
St. Albert City Council
MLA Ken Allred
SATA Executive
St. Albert Gazette
Saint City News
St. Albert’s Place
Edmonton Journal
Pictures From Our Reader’s Libraries
We love to get pictures from our readers and some send us more than others. These shots from the back yard, of her little chipmunk friend, come from Jeanne in Ontario. Thanks for sharing them Jeanne.
WEBBITS
04/08/2010 07:27
* Seattle City Council OKs closing-time tickets.
* Naked Man Beaten Outside richmond Bar.
* Bolivia court upholds seizure or U.S. Man’s ranch.
* Cancer cells slurp up fructose, study finds.
* Whooping cough cases continue to rise in California.
* Bill Cosby’s not dead, says Bill Cosby.
Man’s Best Friend To The Very End - Of His Foot
04/08/2010 07:27
It’s not unusual to read of a dog who saved his master’s life.
Happens all the time.
But this dog saved his master’s life in rather an unusual way.
He chewed his master’s big toe off and ate it.
Huh?
They’re Having a Grand Old Time In Japan
04/08/2010 07:27
A few days back we told you about Japan’s oldest man.
The only trouble was, he had been dead for 30 years or so.
Now Japanese officials are checking on Japan’s oldest woman.
Just one other small problem here folks.
They can’t even find her.
A Stitch In Time Saves Time?
04/08/2010 07:27
You know how frustrating it can be when you have a cut and you have to wait in emergency to get a few stitches?
A guy in Sweden had a deep gash in his leg when he cut it on a stove while renovating his home.
And of course the wait time in emergency was a tad long for his liking.
So he decided to do it himself.
Yep, he sewed up his own leg and now he’s in trouble with the hospital.
They didn’t like him using their needle and thread.
☚ Click Left For Municipal Election Forum
03/08/2010 05:40
The Photography Of Al Popil
Hi Don,
Some snaps from the Smoky Lake rodeo Sunday.
First pic, a bull gets personal with a bull rider.
Second pic, bull named Gunsmoke may have started out slow but it was good enough for Leon Myers of Cold Lake to do a victory dance (3rd pic) after winning the bull riding competition.
Pics 4 and 5, apparently this kid is a grade 10 student from Norway. He wanted to work on a farm in North America. He sent out 160 resumes. A family near Marwayne took him in. He wanted to ride a bull before going back to his fishing village. He got his chance. He didn't last the eight seconds but he tipped his hat to the crowd after being bucked off.
Al Popil
St. Albert
SINC SAYS:
Wow Al, that kid from Norway is one brave lad to climb aboard one of those things.
SAP Poll Results Shows Council Off Base
Well folks, it would seem there is little doubt how local residents feel about their council refusing to meet with the Akinsdale Group. After council completely changes the game plan and refuses to follow the results of the public meeting held asking for input, they choose to ignore all advice and go on their own ugly way. The results below are crystal clear. Apparently council thinks it is above the electorate.
Bits ’N Pieces From Our Readers
Great story on Kevin Costner. Keep up the GREAT work with St. Albert’s Place.
Cheers,
Jim
________________________
Don, this sounds just like St. Albert, don't you think?
Joyce
A New STD
Gonorrhea Lectim (deadly disease) Information about Gonorrhea Lector:
The Center for Disease Control has issued a warning about a new virulent strain of this old disease. The disease is called Gonorrhea Lectim. It’s pronounced “Gonna re-elect ‘em,” and it is a terrible abomination. The disease is contracted through dangerous and high risk behaviour involving putting your cranium up your rectum. Many victims contracted it in 2007 … but now most people, after having been infected for the past three years, are starting to realize how destructive this sickness is. It’s sad because Gonorrhea Lectim is easily cured with a new drug just coming on the market called Votemeout. You take the first dose in 2010 and the second dose in 2013 and simply don't engage in such behaviour again; otherwise, it could become permanent and eventually wipe out all life as we know it.
_____________________
Don,
This clip takes 1 min 30 seconds, and replays one second of real time of a lightning strike slowed down 300 times.
Comment Link
No Comment Link
Bixman
St. Albert
WEBBITS
03/08/2010 05:40
10 Disgusting “Foods” You Loved As A Kid
03/08/2010 05:40
Most of us were fed some pretty disgusting things while growing up.
And surprisingly, many of them are still around.
Remember Spaghetti-Os?
What canned goodness they were, eh?
And fish sticks?
How about those tasty Fruit Roll-ups?
And there’s more.
Wedding Looks More Like Costume Party
03/08/2010 05:39
Passers-by had to look twice to believe what they were seeing.
But there it was, right before their eyes.
Batman marrying Wonder Woman.
But that wasn’t all.
The guests were all dressed in super hero costumes too.
Bunch of nut-balls if you ask me.
GPS Gets Family Lost - For Four Days
03/08/2010 05:39
Many folks have come to rely on GPS units when they travel.
They purchased one for their vehicle, or as in the case of some new cars, they come as standard equipment.
The thing one has to learn though, is that the units are not always right.
You still need a map in unfamiliar territory or you could get lost like this family did.
It took four days to get them out.
☚ Click Left For Municipal Election Forum
02/08/2010 07:47
Arrogant Mayor, Council Refuse Meeting
I can't find an e-mail address for Frances Badrock or Wes Brodhead. I don't know if you can help but I would sure appreciate it. (Email on the way to you Dave.)
The following e-mail was sent out to Council and candidates. We issued a formal request of Council to set up a meeting with Habitat for Humanity, Council, our community and anyone else who might want to attend to discuss Habitat's latest proposal before the fall Council meeting.
We were turned down cold.
Regards,
Dave Evans
SINC SAYS:
So Dave, council changes the entire game plan on 70 Arlington, ignores the recommendations of the public hearings, changes the deal entirely with Habitat, drops the original developer and then tells the residents of Akinsdale to take a hike? Is that about it? How arrogant.
The Email To Council:
1. Introduction
Our community requested that the City Council set up a meeting with Habitat for Humanity, Akinsdale, themselves and anyone else from St. Albert who wished to attend, to discuss the latest Habitat for Humanity proposal before the fall hearing. Since Council doesn't see fit to set up this meeting, the only other alternative that we have is to try and see if we can get answers to our questions and express our concerns is though e-mail. The following is an attempt to do so.
Since it is unknown whether or not the decision on this property will be decided before the election, we have also decided to distribute this report to any new candidates running for Council. In order to accommodate them, we have also provided some background information that the current Councilors may already be aware of.
2. History
Our community’s concerns over this property dates back to 1978 when the St. Albert Protestant Separate School Division (PSSD) informed the Community that it would not be building a school on this property in spite of the huge sign on the property that stated otherwise. PSSD then made efforts to sell the land for private development. This was strongly opposed by our community. A joint committee was set up in 1994 by PSSD and our community to try and come to some resolution. PSSD requested that the 5 acres be split with 2 acres being attached to Attwood Park and the remaining 3 acres being rezoned for a church. A poll of the local homes (115) surrounding the property resulted in over 90% being in favor of the proposal. In 1995, at the request of our community and PSSD, the land was split and rezoned.
Even though several churches have expressed and interest in the property, by their own admission, PSSD never made any effort to sell the land to a church. Churches cannot afford to pay as much for property as a developer can. In 2000, PSSD took a request to the St. Albert Municipal Planning Commission (MPC) to have the property rezoned to medium-density residential so that Qualico could build 30 duplexes in a configuration that is very similar to Habitat’s current proposal. The project was turned down by the MPC for being too dense as well as an inappropriate use of the property. In 2004, PSSD again requested that the property be rezoned so that the Maxwell Care Group could place a large, private, 3 story, seniors' complex. This too was turned down by the MPC as being inappropriate.
3. Protestant Separate School Division
This property is one of 6 reserves that currently exist in St. Albert. The other 5 are all classified as Municipal Reserves (MR) meaning that should a School Division decide that it does not require one of the properties for a school, that reserve will become parkland based on the Municipal Government Act and St. Albert’s bylaws. Why is this property excluded? Because its title was acquired by PSSD in 1979. The Municipal Act was in place at the time but not the St. Albert bylaw which was passed in 1980. Much of the credibility for PSSD owning this property is based on the claim that PSSD negotiated separately from the City for it. Such is not the case. Senior Qualico Managers from the time of Akinsdale’s creation state that PSSD was never involved in the negotiations for the school reserves.
This property is one of 3 school reserves acquired by the City for Akinsdale. One was where the Elmer Gish School now resides, 70 Arlington Drive and the third was at the corner of Akins Drive and Hebert Road. The Akins Drive property was split in 1980 with 3 acres being sold by the Catholic School Division to the Church of Latter Day Saints and 2 acres being provided for the Kinex arena. This is the only school reserve that has been sold off in St. Albert. Akinsdale is the only community that was required to give up a school reserve and is now being forced to give up another.
It is strange that the City always negotiated for school reserves, supposedly stopped negotiating for school reserves for Akinsdale and then continued for communities created after Akinsdale. A developer, by law, is required to provide a minimum of 10% of the land for any new development for schools and parks. PSSD insists that these school reserves were negotiated over and above this 10%. Doesn’t it stretch credibility to believe that Qualico, known for being a tough negotiator, would provide three 5 acre lots of prime real estate for $1 each when there wasn’t any obligation for them to do so?
There could have been a school on the property; the Francophone School Division expressed an interest in acquiring the property years ago but they were informed by PSSD that they would have to pay market value for the property. A church could have been built if PSSD hadn’t been so insistent on being paid market value for the property.
4. St. Albert City Council
The majority of prior City Councils were always against using this land for residential development. It was the expressed belief of these Council members that the property should be appended to Attwood Park. However, Council was not willing to meet PSSD’s demands to be paid full market value for property that it acquired for $1.
In 2008, the current City Council entered into an agreement where Habitat would provide a bid for the 70 Arlington Property based on using the property for ‘affordable housing’. Never once did they consult with our community regarding this proposal. In fact, a deliberate effort was made to undermine us when it provided the Gazette with a press release that stated that the Community rejected a church when Council was well aware that the opposite was the truth. This falsehood caused us much harm by damaging our credibility. It suggested that if this Community wouldn’t accept a church, it is unlikely that it will accept anything, so why deal with them. Council has continued to display a dismissive attitude towards us throughout the entire process.
Another issue is that the City states that this property exceeds the 10% municipal allocation but it can only do so if it includes the 2 hockey arenas and their parking as part of Akinsdale’s parkland. These arenas are hardly for the exclusive use of Akinsdale’s residents. This argument was presented in 2004 and was judged as being invalid by the MPC.
The efforts between Council and Habitat resulted in the Habitat/Apollo proposal for 63 row housing units. This was later reduced to 58 units and we were informed that this was as small as the project could go and still be viable. Our community believed this project was unacceptable. Professional appraisals showed that a project that placed units this close (23 ft.) to existing residents bordering the property would result in about a $40,000 to $50,000 loss in property value for them. In addition, their lots are 10 ft. shorter than standard because they supposedly border onto a park. Apparently, bordering onto a park is a more attractive feature than having two-story housing 23 feet from your back fence.
After dozens of letters and 4 Council meetings where most of the local residents showed up to express their displeasure. Council decided on 2 ‘Roundtable Meetings’ where Akinsdale residents could demonstrate what they wanted. Before the Roundtable Meetings, the residents met as a group and formulated their own proposal. It called for 16 to 20 units in a cul-de-sac with good separation from existing properties and the Attwood Park soccer field that bordered the property. It also provided separate backyards for each unit. At the Roundtable Meetings, 16 of the 19 tables presented the cul-de-sac with the 16 to 20 unit configuration. Two tables presented a 12 unit configuration and 1 table, where the majority of its members were from outside of Akinsdale, presented a 28 unit proposal. At the following Council meeting where the results were presented, the 28 unit configuration became the guideline; Councilor Lemieux proposed a maximum of 34 units and the majority of Council accepted his recommendation. The Roundtable Meetings were a complete waste of time. All they did was firmly convince our community that this Council didn’t have any intent of addressing its concerns.
5. Habitat for Humanity
Sometimes a person can get the feeling that they are being conned. The 63 unit proposal was so ridiculous that it was hard to believe that anyone would seriously consider it. When Habitat and Apollo informed us, with great fanfare, that they were now reducing the number of units to 58 and this was a major sacrifice, it was difficult to take them seriously. The current proposal, which is now to be built exclusively by Habitat, is almost the same configuration as the 58 units except slightly more than every third unit is eliminated. The problem is that the duplexes still are only 23 ft. away from the bordering residences and the loss in property value will be the same as with the 58 unit proposal.
Habitat built its reputation on fixing up dilapidated homes and by building homes on vacant lots for people with limited incomes. It was not built on major infills such as this project. This isn’t the only major project of this kind. There is a similar project being undertaken in Bergman, Edmonton. This project also ran into stiff opposition. Similar proposals have been made in the USA and one was recently cancelled due to local opposition.
5. Issues
- The major problem with any project being built on this property is the cost of providing services (Est. $1,000,000). In order to reduce the size of the project, the City will have to assist in paying for these services. The $840,000 bid by Habitat for this property is ridiculous based on the fact that the land is currently zoned for a church or school. We are told that this bid was provided in a competitive bidding process. It is extremely doubtful that there was a second or third bid for this property. The $840,000 is about double any prior offer that PSSD ever received. Why is PSSD being provided with a windfall when the Province, the City and our community are expected to make major concessions for ‘affordable housing’? By rights, the cost of the property should be reduced to $400,000 or less, (again, PSSD paid $1 for the land). The monies saved could then be used to help pay for services and, thereby, the size of the project could be reduced significantly.
- Someone has to inform Alfred Nikolai to stop telling people that this is a low-density project. This is totally wrong. His latest proposal requires R3 zoning which is at the high end of medium-density housing
- Alfred states that this project will have to be paid for though donations from St. Albert’s residents and companies. Habitat will be very fortunate to receive any donations from Akinsdale residents and there are a lot of other St. Albert citizens who are not pleased with how this project was handled. This displeasure will probably have a very negative impact on Habitat’s fund raising efforts. For the 47 unit Bergman project, Edmonton has a population of 15,638 residents per unit. For the 34 unit Akinsdale project, St. Albert has a population of 1,706 residents per unit. Almost 10 times more per resident will have to be provided by St. Albert over Edmonton to pay for this project. This is a very risky undertaking.
- Alfred states that this project will take years to complete. It should be pointed out that Akinsdale is not a construction site but an established community. This land borders on Attwood Park where our children play. What guarantees can Habitat and the City provide that this project will be completed in a reasonable timeframe, such as 2 years? To set up this land as a construction site for anything longer is a dangerous and unacceptable imposition. What guarantees can be provided that this project will ever be completed at all if the donations are insufficient. Will we end up with a permanent construction site? There has to be adequate guarantees for funding to complete the project before it ever commences and when it does, it has to be finished in a timely manner.
- The proposal calls for units to be built 23 ft. away from existing properties. Behind these existing properties are drainage ditches that draw water away from the land onto Arlington Drive. The southern ditch also drains runoff from the 2 block long pathway between Arlington Drive and Attwood Park. During the spring runoff and summer storms, these ditches become dangerous for children. Those units backing on to these ditches will have these ditches right at their backdoors. This is very unsafe.
- A soccer field borders the project on the Attwood Park side. The reason it was built so close to this property is because in 1995 when the land was split, with 2 acres being attached to Atwood Park, this piece of land became a soccer field. It was never believed by Council at that time that a project of this density would ever be approved for this property. A chain link fence is designated to separate the soccer field from the project. This will make the soccer field dangerously unacceptable. Is the soccer field to be sacrificed?
- The diagram of the project shows trees in the drainage ditches to provide some separation between the projects units and existing homes. Trees cannot be planted in drainage ditches so there won’t be any separation.
- The project proposes a public walkway through the center of it. Will this be acceptable to the project’s residents and who will be responsible for maintaining it?
7. Summary
This proposal does not meet all the criteria that Council established for the site. Habitat, without the assistance of a private developer, and the total dependence on public donations to undertake and complete this project, will create an unacceptable long-term construction site. It would appear that, under these circumstances, the cul-de-sac that the community proposed would as well. If Council is absolutely committed to providing some level of affordable housing on this site, perhaps the wisest thing to do is scale the project back to 5 duplexes (10 units) right along Arlington. While this will not provide the density that Council had in mind, it has several advantages:
- Like the Northridge project, it is manageable. It doesn’t place all the eggs in one basket.
- The cost of providing services for such a project would be significantly less than either Habitat’s proposal or the cul-de-sac
- It is of a size that will require significantly less in donations and can be completed by Habitat in a reasonable time-frame.
- It would retain most of the property as a park.
- The homes bordering the property would not have any units backing on to them and, therefore, their property values would not be impacted.
- Unlike the current proposal, the Habitat duplexes would have the benefit of full backyards and they too would back on to a park.
- It would bring closure to a struggle that the community has had to endure for over 30 years.
- Finally, and most importantly, the Community would endorse the project. I am sure that many Akinsdale residents would even volunteer to help to build it.
Dave Evans
President – Akinsdale Group
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Some Suggestions For That Birthday Party
In response to your article on the birthday party. One item that has been mentioned in the past is holding the R.C.M.P. Musical Ride with an expenditure being quoted as at $40,000.00.
In 1978 I held the position of President of the Jasper Lions Club and we had the opportunity of sponsoring the ride. The responsibility of the club included the providing of space for the horses for a two day period (Brewster Transport made available the bus garage), hay for each stall in the 'stable', as well as the cost of feed.
I took the time to check on the computer under the heading R.C.M.P. Musical Ride, and specifically under the heading "Host Information" and it appears nothing has changed regarding the requirements - so I must ask the question, why are they showing a budget for $40,000.00? The aforementioned responsibilities would be nowhere near that.
I would also ask as to where they intend on holding this show, reason being the last portion of the 28 minute show features the 'charge' by all horses and riders. As I have mentioned earlier to a party that the area we held it at was the 'practice green' at Jasper Park Lodge - with the outcome being a chewed up site which did not sit well with the greenskeeper.
I would say in closing that it could quite possibly be taken on by a service club or organization to carry out without too much trouble - and in particular using volunteers.
G. Proulx
St. Albert
SINC SAYS:
Well, George, in spite of residents being firmly against this waste of our money, a council wearing blinders is forging full steam ahead.
Welcome To Live Chat
02/08/2010 07:47
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Playing Tomorrow Night At LB’s Pub
Rich Stenson, Eric Martin and Trevor Bigam - I met these three great musicians through our eight years of holding jams.
Rich is a very familiar face on the Edmonton music scene. Known for his impeccable timing and incredible feel for the groove, Rich has been a co-host and house bassist at the very respected JR's jam in Edmonton on thursday nights.
Eric is a R&B guitarist vocalist who has a library of tunes up his sleeve. We first met at The Castlerock Pub through Simon Bennett where I got a chance to sit in with Eric. A major part of building the JR's jam and a very respected musician I enjoy Eric’s calmness playing live and his knack for playing many styles of rhythm and blues.
Trevor is the house drummer at the Thursday JR's jam and works diligently behind the kit touring and appearing with a lot of big name acts as a fill in drummer. Very solid behind the kit Trevor doesn’t shy away from the mike with a great singing voice and back up harmonies. A nice chance for St. Alberts music fan base to catch these three who have held their Thursday night jams consistently for over six years.
Ammars Moosehead Tuesday Open Stage
Every Tuesday night from 9 p.m. to 1:00 a.m.
Hosted by Mark Ammar
Moosehead Beer Specials
Sponsored by Moosehead Beer
WEBBITS
02/08/2010 07:47
Good Grief! Someday He’ll Be King
02/08/2010 07:47
They don’t make them any weirder than Prince Charles do they?
He now says he has a purpose in life.
And that is likely a good thing.
But just what purpose does he think he has?
He’s going to save the world.
Yeah, right.
UK Officials Ban Children’s Paddling Pools
02/08/2010 07:47
In yet another stroke of brilliance, officials in the UK have banned pools.
Paddling pools that is.
You know the ones in your back yard where the water is ankle deep.
Why would they do such a thing you ask?
Well, they’re a fire hazard.
How’s that again?
Beware Those Maskless Bandit Raccoons
02/08/2010 07:47
Although they do not exist in this part of the country, they are slowly migrating northward.
Those ring-tailed masked bandits known as raccoons.
But how about a maskless raccoon?
Ever seen one of those?
And no ring-tail either.
☚ Click Left For Municipal Election Forum
01/08/2010 04:53
The Photography Of Al Popil
Hi Don,
Some snaps from Saturday's performance at the Mary Reimer Memorial Rodeo in Hinton.
Some details: two bareback riders, calf roper, bull fighter gets a little too close during junoir bull riding and bull rider, Dustin Wynnyk, gets whipped aboard Rio after his hand got caught in his rigging while a bull fighter rushes to free his hand. Wynnyk was injured.
Al Popil
St. Albert
SINC SAYS:
Wow Al, you sure do get around the country to take those pics of yours, but our readers are very glad you do. And sharing them is a great thing, thanks.
Gazette DARP Poll Running 76% For Plebiscite
And a special hello to those who signed up at the Farmer's Market Saturday to receive information from SATaxpayers. I've attached the DARP brochure to download for your information, and to pass on to others who may be interested.
In addition, the St. Albert Gazette is running a poll that asks whether the DARP should be put to a plebiscite or not. Please follow this link and go and vote!
Thanks everyone.
Lynda Flannery
President
St. Albert Taxpayers Association
SINC SAYS:
Thanks Lynda. I hope readers will take the time to participate in the poll, but we thought we would give our readers the same opportunity:
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WEBBITS
01/08/2010 04:50
Boredom Leads To Sexual Misadventure
01/08/2010 04:49
You and your fiance are bored to death on a weekend afternoon. So, what to do?
I know, lets nip up on the roof, get naked and have a bit of fun. Sounds like a great plan, right?
Wrong.
Educated Aussies At Risk Of Extinction?
01/08/2010 04:44
You would be hard pressed to find anyone who doesn’t know that dinosaurs walked the earth millions of years ago.
But how many folks could you find that think humans walked with them?
Not many, that’s for sure.
Unless of course you go Down Under.
Fully 30 percent of folks there believe that.
The Wisdom Of Will Rogers
01/08/2010 04:14
What the country needs is dirtier fingernails and cleaner minds.
When ignorance gets started it knows no bounds.
When should a college athlete turn pro? Not until he has earned all he can in college as an amateur.
When the Oakies left Oklahoma and moved to California, it raised the I.Q. of both states.
