Concerns raised over proposed Bow River development
The healthy wetlands along the Bow River on Calgary's southern edge are loaded with bird, plant and insect species, and all that life could soon have a lot of company.
In June, the city's planning and infrastructure committee gave preliminary approval to five new communities along the city's edge. Three of them will be built on the Ricardo Ranch lands, immediately east of Highway 2 on the north side of the Bow River.
"I identified almost 30 bird species just within an hour, a whole bunch of healthy native plants and also a very productive wetland," said Nathaniel Schmidt, an environmental advocate and birder.
He says his exploration of land immediately adjacent to the proposed communities of Nostalgia, Logan Landing and Seton Ridge quickly turned up a bank swallow colony.
"They were recently listed as a threatened species under the species-at-risk act and there's a recovery plan in place for them," Schmidt said.
One of the developers, Genesis, said in a statement it's aware of the colony and is putting appropriate setbacks in place to give them room.
Schmidt, who also sits on the board of the Alberta Wilderness Association, says the plans appear to tick many of the city's required environmental boxes, but are not enough.
"I think some of that lands on the city, that our best practices aren't good enough. We have one of the lowest densities of any major North American city," Schmidt said.
"I think the developers would have some fair points to make, but at this point, we need to look 50 years ahead instead of six months ahead and ask ourselves, if there's some money lost now, what's the money (that's) going to be lost in (the) future?"
View: City agenda describing details of new communities
If the new communities are approved by council in November, they will combine to add roughly 5,750 units to the area.
Schmidt says people should go see the place for themselves.
"Ask yourself how many places like this are left within Calgary," he says. "We use the Bow River to advertise to the world what this place is like. What are we telling the world if we destroy one of the few intact places left on the river?"
CTV reached out to all three development companies on Tuesday. Only Genesis responded to inquiries.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
B.C. tenants evicted for landlord's use after refusing large rent increase to take over neighbouring suite
Ashley Dickey and her mother rented part of the same Coquitlam duplex in three different decades under three different landlords.
Mountain guide dies after falling into a crevasse in Banff National Park
A man who fell into a crevasse while leading a backcountry ski group deep in the Canadian Rockies has died.
Expert warns of food consumption habits amid rising prices
A new survey by Dalhousie University's Agri-Food Analytics Lab asked Canadians about their food consumption habits amid rising prices.
MPP Sarah Jama asked to leave Ontario legislature for wearing keffiyeh
MPP Sarah Jama was asked to leave the Legislative Assembly of Ontario by House Speaker Ted Arnott on Thursday for wearing a keffiyeh, a garment which has been banned at Queen’s Park.
Charlie Woods, son of Tiger, shoots 81 in U.S. Open qualifier
Charlie Woods failed to advance in a U.S. Open local qualifying event Thursday, shooting a 9-over 81 at Legacy Golf & Tennis Club.
Ex-tabloid publisher testifies he scooped up possibly damaging tales to shield his old friend Trump
As Donald Trump was running for president in 2016, his old friend at the National Enquirer was scooping up potentially damaging stories about the candidate and paying out tens of thousands of dollars to keep them from the public eye.
Here's why provinces aren't following Saskatchewan's lead on the carbon tax home heating fight
After Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said the federal government would still send Canada Carbon Rebate cheques to Saskatchewan residents, despite Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe's decision to stop collecting the carbon tax on natural gas or home heating, questions were raised about whether other provinces would follow suit. CTV News reached out across the country and here's what we found out.
Montreal actress calls Weinstein ruling 'discouraging' but not surprising
A Montreal actress, who has previously detailed incidents she had with disgraced Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein, says a New York Court of Appeals decision overturning his 2020 rape conviction is 'discouraging' but not surprising.
Caleb Williams, Jayden Daniels and Drake Maye make it four NFL drafts with quarterbacks going 1-3
Caleb Williams is heading to the Windy City, aiming to become the franchise quarterback Chicago has sought for decades.