No Development Adjacent to Monklands and Ralph McCall School

December 5, 2009

To: Her Honorable Worship Mayor Linda Bruce and the City of Airdrie Aldermen

RE: PROPOSED MEDIUM DENSITY HOUSING DEVELOPMENT ADJACENT TO THE MONKLANDS SOCCER FIELD AND RALPH McCALL SCHOOL

The undersigned are requesting that the City of Airdrie NOT re-zone the parcel of land located west of Ralph McCall School, and east of the Monklands soccer field access road from P-1 Public Service to R-4 Medium Density Multi Dwelling. The proposed re-zoning and associated housing development is of a concern to us for the following reasons:

• Loss of valuable community green space
• Potential re-alignment of existing school boundaries for Ralph McCall School
• Safety concerns during the construction of several housing units on a busy school yard
• Confusion over the ultimate plans of the development. Is it 34 or 50 units (interviews in the local press suggest 50, while a developer’s open house stated 34)?
• Increased traffic congestion during the pick up and drop off of students at Ralph McCall and Our Lady Queen of Peace schools
• Limiting the future expansion of Monkland’s Soccer Fields or Ralph McCall School
• Loss of a safe student drop-off/pick-up parking area and parking for the soccer fields

We appreciate the need for this development and as such would suggest that other potential locations to be considered could include the former Post Office, the former Airdrie Auto Dismantlers property, the former Old Hotel Site, or the empty lot located across 1st Street from the Royal Bank. All of these locations would meet the needs of the developer and would not create nearly the safety concerns or loss of green space that the current location poses.

We ask that you consider the quality of life we enjoy in this community and the safety of our children as you move forward with deliberations for this re-zoning and development.

Sincerely,

The Undersigned

CC: City of Airdrie Planning Department