Rethink Riverlands
A few years after I settled in Red Deer in 1977, a developer proposed a major redevelopment to energize the downtown Red Deer that included an open pedestrian mall on Ross Street. City council rejected that opportunity and permitted the Bower Mall. When the railyards were removed, council permitted Superstore to build a large green eyesore that continues to dominate the west side of our downtown.
Riverlands is the land vacated by the civic yards on the south bank of the Red Deer River, west of Taylor Drive. A Riverlands Development Plan (RDP) developed several years ago proposed a blend of green space and commercial developments on this prime property. The West region of Riverlands is the most suitable area for a small park surrounded by low-rise business and residences. Why did our city planners propose RDP amendments that permit at least one eight-to-10 storey condo in west Riverlands that would only be skirted by a boardwalk?
Homeowners who overlook the grasslands and previous small buildings in west Riverlands support the original RDP that limits buildings in that area to only five storeys. We are alarmed council may permit one or more high-rise condominiums immediately below our homes that would compromise our environment and force us to either live beside or move away from high-density housing. The much larger east Riverlands area would accommodate high-rise buildings and generate significant tax revenue without compromising homeowners.
Hundreds of other West Park residents who walk and cycle along the riverside path with their children and dogs have also looked forward to enjoying the small park spaces incorporated into the original RDP. I am confident that a Red Deer plebiscite would reject the proposed RDP amendments. Council should also reject the proposed Riverlands amendments, seek input from all individuals who reside or work in Red Deer and then charge city planners to continue to develop an RDP that will guide council’s once in a life time opportunity to develop Riverlands for the benefit of all Red Deerians.
Gordon Bailey, West Park Riverland’s Association, Red Deer
MIA: Red Deer-South MLA
I am contacting you to pass on my frustration with my MLA in the Red Deer-South constituency. About a month ago, I contacted her office to try to arrange a meeting with her regarding a concern I am having on behalf of my daughter who is a MS sufferer. She has been accepted for stem cell treatment to, if not cure the MS, then at least stop the progression. As this treatment is still considered experimental in Canada, the family and friends are funding the treatment to the tune of $75,000. We now find out that she will require some follow up drugs at the cost of $4,000 a treatment for a year adding up to $16,000, which we find out is not approved for MS but is approved and funded for cancer and arthritis patients. In an effort to help my daughter, I contacted Barb Millers’ office to see why this drug isn’t covered for MS patients, but was informed by one of her staff, that I could not speak to her directly, as she was very busy, but only through him. I wasn’t happy about this as I believed that I could explain it to her directly rather than second hand. Well, I was right to be concerned, as here it is almost a month later and I have had no response from her office. I have called the office quite a few times but keep getting the same answer, “we’ve had no reply from AHS.” On Friday I was promised a call back before the end of the day, but as of today, (Thursday)afternoon, still no contact.
I have come to the conclusion that Ms. Miller hopes that if she ignores the issue it will go away and that will solve the problem. I am wondering what a taxpayer and voter has to do, to at least get their provincial representative to respond to their concerns.
George Croome, Red Deer