Ears to hear
Sharon McLeay
Times Contributor
Kneehill County Councillors passed the building of the Badlands Motorsport Resort Area Structure Plan (ASP) through second reading on June 6, regardless of standing room only crowds and overwhelming opposition by residents and ratepayers.
“Think of the tidal wave of opposition that has come in through letters and the people that have appeared here today.” said Joel Stefanishion.
“This is an island in a sea of opposition,” said Jim Clark.
Kneehill County Councillor Brian Holsworth said the residents deserved a definitive answer right away; however, Councillor Ken Hoppins and several others wanted more time to deliberate. The vote went ahead and the result was five accepting the reading and two against.
The meeting was held in the Kneehill community hall and council granted an extension of 2.5 hours, when petitioners were still lined up out the door, after regular council hours had expired. Each presenter had three minutes to address council. In true rural fashion, when a neighbour ran out of time, another neighbour from the floor lent him his or her minutes.
Time and time again, the presenters reminded council of their responsibility to the electorate. The goals of the ASP were compared to the Municipal Development Plan and contraventions were pointed out.
“As our councillors, you are ultimately responsible to us and you will be held accountable for your decision here today,” said Joanne Kenworthy.
Although it is a rural community, many of the population have wide ranging expertise and educational degrees in diverse fields. Some of the area’s experts presented studies supporting ecological reasons, flaws in the consultants’ reports, financial ramifications, and points of cultural insensitivity negating the wisdom of the plan.
Geoff Holroyd, holding a doctorate degree and previously employed as an environmental scientist with the Canadian government, showed a multitude of evidence that the race track and development would disturb many species and songbird populations. The study was done by qualified volunteers. He pointed out errors in one of the consultants’ reports. Holroyd showed how their report misidentified and underestimated the wildlife that would be affected. He gave an example of a wildlife study in Banff that he participated in. During one day of loud noise tests, it frightened the wildlife in the area away and they never came back, bringing into question the ASP consultants’ assumption that evening noise shutdown would bring them back.
The area slated for condo sites is in the centre of the largest bird breeding area in North America. Ariel insectivores have decreased 60 per cent in the last 40 years and the population of 500 active nests here is phenomenal. He showed other flourishing species with 97 per cent declines and songbirds with 50 per cent declines that were breeding in the area. He expected road mortality, starvation and vehicle kills for the wildlife, from the development. He encouraged Council to think globally and act locally.
“This project can’t mitigate these effects. This development is just in the wrong place,” said Holroyd. “There are far more implications than have been identified. An extensive Environmental Impact Study is essential. I find it amazing that we are even here today.”
There are species of grass and wildflower that were not listed in the report and some that are almost extinct. There were pictures and samples brought in to remind Kneehill Councillors of their beauty. The area has been nationally designated as an environmentally sensitive and significant area.
Russell Muenchrath, agricultural manager for Wheatland County and member of the Rosebud River Watershed, showed how cars arriving from other areas and nonporous surfaces of the track and roadways would disturb soil and send species contaminates via storm water surging into the wetlands and the river, upsetting the delicate ecology.
Paul Lauson showed specifications to noise experts at his workplace, who told him the figures for noise levels were in question. Linda Clark used to live near Calabognie Motorsports Track and said the sound will travel, as 70 decibel (dB) races can be heard there from two miles away. Internet sites show many tracks reach over 103 dB on race days. Alberta Health and Safety standards limit 85-87 dB for eight hours continuously and 103db exposure is recommended no longer than three minutes. Sue Millar owns a B&B in Rosebud and she thinks the project will ruin her business. Some wanted a financial probability analysis.
Geologists gave information on the instability of the rock formations for hillside homes. Road washouts were prevalent in the area and the canyon’s formations intensify sound to Rosebud. Engineers testified setbacks were insufficient to protect adjacent vegetation and there were structural defects in the plans. Generational farmers gave testimony that they were insulted that the report listed the land not good for agricultural use. Colin Jensen showed photos of his farm adjacent to the area with bumper crop yield. Jensen also pointed out that the luxury condo owners were not going to like when farmers took to the field. The dust and chemicals on homes and luxury vehicles would be a source of complaint. He also felt that the development was not a benefit to the community and few would be able to afford to even use it. Other farmers complained of restricted access to their fields and don’t want traffic complaints when moving equipment. Others wondered who would pay for infrastructure maintenance. There were heartfelt pleas by many people who felt it wasn’t a fit for this area.
They told of the hardships their forefathers endured to stake out a lifestyle, on land that was turned even before Alberta became a province. Young and old spoke of love for a rural lifestyle they had chosen, for just the way it was, expressing it was in jeopardy. Elaine Bellamy’s voice broke when she gave a poetic description of her prairie pioneer family linked to the land. She spoke of how she remortgaged her paid land to keep family property out of developers’ hands. Bellamy indicated they were stealing something valuable from the people. She said the situation set up an urban-rural struggle.
Tales were told of pressure tactics used on residents to sell.
“I regret that I sold four acres to them. At the time I needed the money and they pressured me into the sale by saying I may as well take the money, because it was going to be built anyway,” said Jensen.
Opinions surfaced that it was culturally insensitive to think a luxury weekend place for the wealthy and their fast cars would be a fit for a region known for its agrarian population steeped in history and heritage, and a land known for its ecological beauty. There was outrage that the developers did not communicate with people in the area about their acceptance of the project. They stated tourism is a cooperative venture.
When asked for his response to the petitions, Wilson replied they were more emotional than factual and he really didn’t understand how it affected them. He wondered why they couldn’t see the potential for the area the project would bring. He wanted to work with the community to protect the site.
“No reworking will mollify the opposition. I think you’ll agree that theirs is the only opinion that matters and the project is dead in the water,” said Joel Stefanishion to Kneehill Council.
“At the end of the day, when the rubber meets the road, it isn’t a good fit for a pristine environment, “said Clark.