Springbank Hill residents in court for injunction hearing on development proposal

Residents from a southwest Calgary community were in court Friday after filing an injunction against the city over a development proposal.

Residents from a southwest Calgary community were in court on Friday afternoon after filing an injunction against the city over a development proposal.

Several Springbank Hill residents came to court for the injunction hearing.

They are concerned that the city is scheduled to vote on rezoning their area when residents don’t have a councillor.

The proposed Augusta Villas project would add 42 townhomes to nearly three acres of undeveloped land.

Many residents say it will add too much traffic and increase parking congestion—and cast a shadow over existing homes.

In a statement to CTV News, developer Kyle Wurzer says the proposal is a better outcome for the community, with internal garages and visitor parking on-site and communal waste and recycling pickup.

An injunction was filed this week, just as residents told city council they would do if the city would not delay the rezoning vote until after the fall election.

The previous Ward 6 councillor, Richard Pootmans, stepped down this past November, and though another councillor, Sonya Sharp, has taken on representing Springbank Hill, residents say Sharp does not have an extra vote on their behalf and the city hall hearing should take place after the Oct. 20 election.

“This is not a big ask at all, and this is really why citizens are so frustrated and, quite frankly, angry about the situation,” said Sarah Austin, Concerned Residents of Springbank Hill spokesperson.

“We had initially been told that this hearing would be scheduled after the election. All of a sudden in the summer, that got rushed through Calgary Planning Commission and is now being rushed through city hall without a clear explanation as to why.

“The protection of citizens’ democratic rights is a serious matter, and so we are pleased to be able to be heard today.”

The court injunction hearing will continue on Monday.

The public rezoning hearing at city hall is scheduled for Tuesday morning.