Okotoks council has given the go-ahead on the Arts and Learning Campus on Riverside Drive.
Following a public hearing at its April 27 meeting, Town council approved the development permit for the first phase of the $23.3-million Arts and Learning Campus, which will expand the Okotoks Public Library, as well as housing Bow Valley College, Community Futures, Foothills School Division (Cameron Crossing School), Christ the Redeemer Catholic Schools (offices and St. Luke’s Outreach Centre), as well as limited retail space.
Christ the Redeemer has committed $6 million to the project as a purchasing partner, and the Town received confirmation from the Province last week the remaining $18.3 million would be entirely funded by Municipal Sustainability Initiative (MSI) grants.
Coun. Matt Rockley made the motion to approve the development permit, noting the facility would help provide a good future for Okotoks residents despite uncertainty during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“To have a nice community into the future we need to be making these kinds of continual improvements and enhancements to our town, our physical environment, so Okotoks remains a place where people want to be,” said Rockley.
He said the beauty and picturesque elements Okotoks is known for didn’t happen by accident – it took years of planning and reinvestment into the community, such as the downtown revitalization that was also contentious when it occurred because people were concerned about the roads being impassible for larger vehicles with the tree-lined boulevards.
The Arts and Learning Campus may be the same for people and garner appreciation once it’s built, he said, addressing the feedback and upheaval heard from members of the community since the tree removal began at Ethel Tucker Park on April 13.
“It may be a little bit uncomfortable for some people now, maybe some people are using this as an opportunity to get their name out there for future Town election campaigns,” said Rockley. “But in the fullness of time, this will be one of those things they can look back on and say, ‘That was a great thing to do and it really is a benefit.’”
Coun. Florence Christophers was the lone vote against the development permit, citing concerns with the look and height of the building, as well as its location.
“I just think there’s some shortcomings with this project,” said Christophers. “There are wonderful things about the project and it’s going to move forward and we’ll be blessed and there will be lots of benefits, but there are definitely some shortcomings in both process and final product that I just wanted to put on the table.”
Many of her concerns with the process centred around a perceived lack of information. She said it was common throughout the past 16 months to hear there would be more information coming and by the time designs or clarification came forward dollars had already been earmarked or spent.
It was a problem many citizens noted in the last half of April, saying they hadn’t had the chance to speak up and voice their opinions. Many said they didn’t know anything about the project.
Coun. Tanya Thorn said communication was done to the best of the Town’s ability with news releases, media, council meetings and minutes, open houses and information sessions. She challenged the public to let council know what else it could do to bring information forward.
“They’ve got a role in democracy as well and in public engagement, so I put it back out there as what does the community want?” said Thorn. “I have yet to see an answer to that question.
“We’re trying to do what we think is right, what we think is fair. That does not mean there’s not things for us to learn, because we learn something at every project.”
Coun. Ed Sands said the timing is right for the project, especially since the Town’s portion will be 100 per cent grant-funded.
He said it’s better than the position the Town was in during the recession in the early ‘80s, when the council of the day opted to go against popular opinion and build the recreation centre with a 25-year debenture at about 18 per cent interest.
“I don’t think anybody can fault the council of the day for building that recreation centre,” said Sands. “Arts and Learning Campus, during a time that we have uncertainty moving forward, is going to be built with no debt. The time to pay that off is zero.
“Legitimacy of doing it now – this is coming together of five important groups to do five important projects. We are maintaining Ethel Tucker’s legacy, we’re improving the Ethel Tucker facility functionality. I think there’s good legitimacy to be doing it now.”
Krista Conrad, OkotoksToday.ca
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