Rezoning debate reignites fears over contamination at former CBC Calgary site

A redevelopment in Hillhurst is causing some concern among residents. Mason DePatie has details.

Concerns over soil contamination are taking centre stage at Calgary city hall as council considers a controversial inner-city redevelopment in Hillhurst.

During Tuesday’s meeting, city council will decide on changing the land use designation for 1706 Westmount Blvd. N.W.

It’s the former site of the former CBC building, which has sat vacant for several years.

Anthem Properties is looking to build a 269-unit apartment complex on the site, requiring the lot to be changed to a District Control District allowing multi-residential development.

While residents do have some concerns about the complex, the main issue is what would be buried beneath it.

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Decades ago, a wood treatment plant operated across the Bow River, leaving behind creosote contamination that seeped under the river.

The province filed a report in 2022 that found contamination at the Westmount site is mostly confined to the south portion of the lot and does not pose a risk through inhalation.

But with construction on the horizon, the report does little to quell the nerves of those who live nearby.

Jim Stirling, a Hillhurst resident and engineer by trade, is concerned that the excavation will stir up the creosote.

“What we’re asking for is that they suspend the land use approval and appoint an independent panel to study the evidence that we’ve gathered to demonstrate our concerns,” he said.

Ward 7 Coun. Terry Wong said he has heard from dozens of concerned community members about the issue.

“We’ve been advised by Alberta Environment that there is not a great risk,” he said. “Most of that creosote is buried very, very deep in the bedrock, and a significant amount of clay above it and the water table. So again, disturbance of the creosote shouldn’t be a problem.”

Anthem Properties previously told CTV News that it would need to dig about three metres deep to build its single-storey parkade, leaving 1.2 metres above ground.

It also notes that it has a risk management plan that includes testing, reporting, monitoring, and an exposure control protocol.

If council approves the rezoning, construction could begin as early as next summer, with completion expected in 2028.