The future of a controversial development planned on a former local golf course and prominent valley is now in question.
On June 1, the City of Calgary released the report of the Confederation Park Regional Drainage Study. The study recommends that the city build a water storage facility in the former golf course.
To do so the city would need to acquire some or all of the land, currently owned by Amble Ventures Inc. (Maple Projects), a Vancouver-based developer. Last year, Amble sought and received land use approval from city council to build some 2,000 living units, conditional upon completion of the drainage study.
The study considered 5 options to address water drainage issues within the broader Confederation Creek catchment area.
Four options were rejected, including one estimated at $300 million to divert water from Confederation Creek through Sunnyside into the Bow River. The study also rejected an option to do nothing, citing numerous existing drainage issues, as well as the likelihood of increased storm water runoff due to climate change and densification.
The study refers to the water’s current path through Queen’s Park Cemetery and the golf course as a “creek” and “crown claimable land”. During Amble’s land use application, many area residents were frustrated that the city refused to call the water a creek, despite evidence of its existence long before city settlement occurred. “Crown claimable” would mean construction over or near the water would require approval from the province.
The recommended option is estimated to cost $35 Million, within a range of 50 to 100%. Estimates of land acquisition in the former golf course were not provided.
