Controversial Canmore development shot down by town council

A controversial residential development in Canmore west of Calgary was unanimously rejected Tuesday nightby its town council.

The Peaks ofGrassiinfill development was to be built on roughly one and a half hectares (four acres)of land in the existing neighbourhood of the same name in the southwest part of town.

The plan, which called for20 residential units includingsingle-familydetached homes, duplexes and secondary suites,has been a very popular and heated subject in the area for months.

• Peaks of Grassi development hearing in Canmore draws opposition

During themeeting, at least two council members talked about the bitter debate over the plan and how it divided theusually quiet mountaintown.the

Steve Hrudey, one of the Canmore residents opposed to the development, says the debate got nasty.

"We were bullied by cartoons in the newspaper. Someone at the public hearing talked about mob rule," Hrudey said.

Coun.Esme Comfort says she too felt intimidated and bullied during the process.

A lack of low-cost housing was one of the concerns raised by council.

Mayor John Borrowman says the Peaks of Grassi development would have strayedtoo much from previous plans for theneighbourhood.

"Once we're done with the bylaw it's out of our hands, so then really the units could sell for any price and to people that aren't needing housing to live and work in Canmore,"he said.

The area is zoned as anurban reserve so, according to Borrowman, there is nothing to prevent owners and supporters from filing a new application for development.