Diane Colley-Urquhart on Plan It

Posted by Lindsey Wallis in Politics

So it would appear that Diane Colley-Urquhart doesn't like Jeremy very much and won't talk to him (See his story on Plan It in last week's issue).  But she likes me! I chatted with her about Plan It and the motion put forward by her and three other aldermen to delay it until the fall (see news notes) the other day.  For those of you who might be curious how she feels about Calgary's 60-year sustainable growth plan here is what she had to say about PlanIt:

"The bottom line is that there are those on council who don't want to have any more suburban growth.  I represent the suburbs and believe that people should have the choice of owning their own home with the white picket fence and not be forced into living high-rises and condos downtown."

"I think if we are creative and find a way to finance growth that we should be able to continue to do both (build suburbs and high-rises), but the way Plan It was written it puts people in an either/or situation."

And the best for last:

"It's an absolute myth to think it's cheaper to live downtown and in high-rises than in the suburbs. Families can't afford to live in the inner city, just look at the real estate prices and the taxes people pay in the inner city."

 

 

 


more in News     |     posted May 7th, 2009 at 2:28pm     

Comments: 3

Subvertisement wrote:

I say people who want to live in the white picket fence houses in the suburbs should absolutely be paying the lion's share of the getting the cost of services and infrastructure out to those suburbs - if these people were forced to pay the real cost of those services (instead of being subsidized by those who live closer to the centre of city), I am willing to bet they would have a different idea about living in the suburbs.

I think it's time that people who live in or own homes in the inner city stop subsidizing the cost of services for those who choose to live in bohemiath, eyesore developments at the edge of the city.

We really need to set up a different property tax system in Calgary - that is the only way that people will change their overconsumptive ways - hit the suburb dwellers in the pocketbook! It shouldn't just be based on property value, but rather cost of getting services out to remote areas of the city (i.e. the real cost of living in the suburbs!).

on May 8th, 2009 at 6:11pm Report Abuse

DollFurious wrote:

I happen to live in one of those white picket homes. I was born and raised in the Calgarian suburbs and have seen the city limits grow and the cookie cutter houses creep out like some sort of rot. I do not drive and rely primarily on the transit system to get around. For those living in communities such as Mackenzie Town with the same pedestrian leanings, the ability to get around is grossly limited. If they can't stop land annexing and mindless development then yes, tax them through the roof! A 'white picket home' is not a right. If you can't find one or afford one in Calgary and can't reconcile yourself to living in the inner city, go elsewhere.
Thoughtless growth isn't a sign of a successful city.

on May 13th, 2009 at 9:45am Report Abuse

critninja wrote:

just wait till gasoline prices start heading north again. those in the 'burbs will be screaming bloody murder - maybe then, they will begin to see that suburban living is not sustainable into the future.



















on May 22nd, 2009 at 9:23am Report Abuse


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