SCNC - Lansdowne
South Campus Neighbourhood Coalition
West 240 Engagement Resource Guide
Being involved in a public consultation process can be difficult for residents, and the West 240 engagement is no exception. Oftentimes the issues at hand have serious implications, which can cause anxiety and anger.
It is important to be mindful that public consultation is an opportunity for your voice to be heard.
The SCNC encourages residents to use these opportunities to do exactly that: be heard. This Guide will help you magnify your voice to effectively provide feedback with the greatest impact.
We are currently still in the midst of the engagement period, and refinements to the preferred concepts leading to the Master Plan will be made over the coming months.
Now is the opportunity for each and every concerned resident to make their voice heard.
Lansdowne Community League (LCL):
A community league’s role is to provide information, resources, and opportunity to its residents so that they can provide effective, meaningful feedback.
South Campus Neighbourhood Coalition (SCNC):
Works in conjunction with Lansdowne Community League and seven other neighbouring communities. It was formed specifically to improve the ability of neighbourhoods adjacent to South Campus to effectively consult with and provide community feedback to the University of Alberta.
SCNC’s priority is the successful integration of South Campus developments into our communities through mutually beneficial and compatible land uses and developments.
Recap from the June 7th Open House
With many other Lansdowners on hand, several LCL Board members attended the June 7, 2023, West 240 Phase 2 Open House, which presented two concepts for feedback that will guide the UAPT’s creation of the West 240 Conceptual Master Plan over the coming months.
The two draft Concepts A & B put forth are above, and found on the sixth engagement board using this link>>
Notable on both Concepts A & B was the lack of a greenspace buffer along the north side of Lansdowne where our current residents border the farm.
Feedback has been given throughout the design process that a green buffer should be maintained along the Lansdowne/West 240 and Grandview/West 240 borders, as highlighted under Point 01 of the fifth engagement board.
A green buffer could help “Sensitively integrate new development with the existing communities” and “Celebrate the site’s legacy through the design,” as the UAPT has highlighted as two of its design priorities on the fifth engagement board. However, both concepts represent current Lansdowne residents sharing their back alley with the new West 240 residents.
Further, the proposal of a shared alley would in effect connect vehicular access between Lansdowne and West 240. Grandview is seen with two major vehicular access points in Concept A and one in Concept B.
We are currently still in the midst of the engagement period, and refinements to the preferred concepts leading to the Master Plan will be made over the coming months.
Important Links:
Some concerns raised by the current development concepts:
No green space or belt between Lansdowne and the new neighbourhood.
Negative effect on property values.
Shared alleyway means significantly increased vehicular traffic in and out of Lansdowne to access West 240.
Environmental impact, including cutting down mature trees and removing a wildlife corridor and existing wetlands.
Reduced recreational space for cross-country skiing, walking access to ravine, dog walking, et cetera.
Traffic and congestion concerns.
Increased traffic volume in and out of Lansdowne via shared alleyway.
Increased traffic and congestion will already be brought by the Michener Park development.
Will traffic clog up Grandview, Lansdowne, and 122nd Street? Can current infrastructure handle a development of such a high population?
No capacity or traffic evaluations or stability of land assessments have been produced; however, a concept design has already been put forth with a high population proposal.
If the plan is to do these evaluations in the summer, will this provide a complete picture?
Where are all the West 240 children, with this proposed population capacity, supposed to go to school?
Can current schools support this population influx to the area?
If not, where will these new kids be bussed to; and will the bussing be included in the traffic consultation process?
Engagement has not been in good faith up to this point.
Priorities and concerns that came out of the first engagement were largely ignored and not incorporated into design concepts.
Location of engagement was problematic in its limited parking and access to transit, which hinders participation from all residents.
Loss of migratory bird habitat and wildlife corridor.
Use of terms such as “clear cut,” “we will develop every inch of the space we can,” that all existing mature trees on site are “just brush,” and plans to “rip it all out.”
Did not incorporate any natural features currently on site.
Back-facing ravine lots.
Loss of ravine access from public and wildlife.
Slope stability issues.
Not respecting and matching existing neighbourhoods’ top-of-bank roadway pattern.
Who to contact with your concerns:
South Campus Neighbourhood Coalition (SCNC):
We want Lansdowne residents’ feedback to share with the University and to advocate for our neighbourhood.
Please send or CC your letters to
scnc@lansdownecommunityleague.com
University of Alberta Property Trust (UAPT):
Send all letters of engagement to
feedback@west240.site
Call 1-877-816-6384 to discuss your concerns
Board of Directors:
No contact info was included specifically for the Board on UAPT’s website. However, the President of the U of A, Bill Flanagan, is on the Board of Directors and can be reached at
president@ualberta.ca and 780-492-3212
Developer - B&A Planning
info@bastudios.ca and 780-760-4738
City Councillor - Michael Janz
michael.janz@edmonton.ca and 780-496-8146