Rocky View County will conditionally support a Provincial functional planning study regarding the Old Banff Coach Road intersection.
Councillors unanimously approved a motion, Sept. 20, directing staff to send a letter to that effect to the Minister of Transportation Luke Ouellette.
The move came as a result of much discussion, Sept. 13, about the effect a change would have on residents and businesses near the interchange and the importance of garnering public input.
Council tabled the matter, before bringing it up again, Sept. 20.
The letter states that the County “has received a considerable amount of reaction from our community as a result of this proposal.”
According to area Councillor Kim Magnuson, residents are concerned about changing the status quo.
“They didn’t want it changed so it would be only a fly-over,” she said. “They want it to remain a fully functional intersection.”
The letter contains several conditions for support of the planning study, including a full consultative process, that road connections be evaluated 30 years into the future, that options include various access points as well as the status quo, cost impact assessment on each option and traffic modelling would include County growth factors and continuous modelling to the Stoney ring road.
The County is also asking Alberta Transportation to present the conclusion of the document to council before finalization of the study.
Councillor Margaret Bahcheli wanted to include a statement about the County’s concern that the new interchange may provide an unfair advantage to some developers with easier access. However, that motion was soundly defeated in an 8-1 vote.
Councillor Earl Solberg said the feasibility study would be “purely technical” with no regard for future development and discouraged the addition of the statement.
Councillor Rick Butler, who met with Ouellette, Sept. 20, said, based on his meeting, the letter was in alignment with Alberta Transportation’s goals.
“It is very much in sync with what both the Minister and (Rocky View County) want.”
