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Letter: Preserving green spaces in Red Deer

The Advocate published an article Feb. 11 about Sunnybrook residents concerned about the treed area adjacent to the west end of Stanley Crescent about which I have the following comments.
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The Advocate published an article Feb. 11 about Sunnybrook residents concerned about the treed area adjacent to the west end of Stanley Crescent about which I have the following comments.

I believe it is important for the public to know the following information:

This parcel of land has 13.6 acres and has two land use designations (zoning); A1: Future Urban Development District and A2: Environmental Preservation District.

The A1 portion covers approximately 1.7 acres and the A2 portion covers 11.9 acres.

I understand that the A1 zoning is to ensure if or when the owner ever wanted to develop the land into a use other than its current use there would be a public consultation process. This would require the owner to make an application to the City of Red Deer for a change in zoning or land use to one or more of the categories enumerated in the Land Use Bylaw.

The A2 zoning or district is to protect environmentally sensitive land by restricting development to minimal and environmental compatible uses. I have lived in Red Deer for the past 30 years and have during all this time known this land to be zoned as mentioned.

I find it interesting that Garfield Marks has a concern about any development taking place on this land especially when he supported the extension of Molly Banister Drive.

It seems when the issue is in your backyard, there is one perspective and when the issue is not in your backyard or in someone else’s backyard, there is another perspective. What about it being in the “public good”?

What about the main issue: the preservation of our much beloved natural areas in Red Deer, in this case, Bower/Piper Creek Forest, the likes of which there is no other in Red Deer.

We need to advocate for the preservation of as much of our natural area as reasonably possible; more of it is not being created. I believe that COVID has shown our natural areas have been most beneficial in maintaining our sanity during the past 12 months. Many people have enjoyed reading the “book of nature.”

Myron Chilibeck, Red Deer