Latest news with #Hillhurst
CBC
5 days ago
- Business
- CBC
Unanimous support from Calgary council for rezoning despite creosote concerns
Calgary city council voted unanimously to rezone a vacant site in the city's northwest, despite concerns from some residents in the area about the environmental impact of potential creosote contamination. Creosote is a chemical that's used as a wood preservative, and is considered a probable carcinogen in Canada. The land use amendment up for debate is a proposal from Anthem Properties to build three apartment buildings, providing more than 250 housing units, at 1706 Westmount Boulevard N.W. in Calgary's Hillhurst neighbourhood. CBC Calgary was headquartered at the site for nearly six decades up until 2017. After the CBC relocated, its former headquarters were demolished. But the land is in an area that's historically been affected by residual creosote contamination, stemming from a former Canada Creosote company site that used to stand across the Bow River. Developers behind the proposal faced questions from council, spurred by some local opposition, about its plans to mitigate the creosote. The plant closed in 1962 after 38 years of operation, but over time, creosote leached under the Bow River and into nearby communities, including Hillhurst. The contaminated soil was walled off in the 1990s, but has proven extremely difficult to clean up in the ensuing decades. Opposition from residents like James Stirling, a petroleum engineer who lives north of the site, raised questions about whether enough care was placed on the environmental assessment of the land and the proposed development's mitigation plan. "We don't think the risk management accounts for the risks associated with venting creosote-related components into the atmosphere," Stirling said. Alberta Environment has accepted the risk management plan for the project, which includes monitoring the site's construction for issues related to creosote contamination. Stirling said he's been frustrated at a lack of communication from the city and province in response to his attempts to reach out about environmental concerns around the development. But developers argue the project won't dig deep enough to disturb the soil and risk the community's health. After debate surrounding the issue began at Tuesday's city council meeting, councillors continued to discuss the matter on Wednesday, where council voted 14-0 in approval. Ward 3 Coun. Jasmine Mian said she supported the development because she's confident appropriate monitoring systems are in place to assess the development's environment impact. "I think there are different tolerances for risk and risk management, and I can appreciate why members of the community might have absolutely zero risk tolerance, but I do think that we have good regulations set out to manage different concerns, and it seems like all of those have been met," said Mian. Opposition to the development from residents expressed various other concerns including increased traffic, the development's height shadowing other buildings and changes to nearby intersections.
CTV News
15-07-2025
- Politics
- CTV News
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. Rezoning debate reignites fears over contamination at former CBC Calgary site Residents in Hillhurst are concerned about creosote contamination from a redevelopment, but the area councillor says there is no danger. 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. 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. Rezoning debate reignites fears over contamination at former CBC Calgary site 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.
