Property Taxes and Oakridge Projects
Property Assessments were mailed out to residents in early January and further details are available at https://www.calgary.ca/property-owners/assessment.html. The 2023 Customer Review Period ends March 13. Regarding the list of common Oakridge projects shared with our Ward 11 representatives, we are cautiously optimistic that some of our projects will get approved and implemented, especially the road safety ones.
Southland Crossing – Co-op Development Plans
Work has begun on the new store, with a completion/move in date of spring 2024. Note, we have yet to understand details of the nine storey tower blocks and their implications on existing and new Oakridge residents. We hope to have more information shared with us soon – the latest details are available at https://www.oakridgemonitor.com/.
OCA Board Meeting with Residential Traffic Safety Unit (RTSU)
In February, the monthly OCA Board meeting was privileged to have representatives from the RTSU visit us and explain their focus. “Their strategy is to utilize citizen feedback to develop operational responses. Their focus is on playground zones, pedestrian rich areas, and other high-risk locations identified through collision data analysis and public feedback.” They also utilize the Traffic Service Request System (TSR). The TSR is a key tool to help Calgary Police Service monitor and track traffic safety issues. You can submit a TSR by visiting https://www.calgary.ca/cps/traffic/traffic-service-requests.html.
Please also use the City of Calgary 311 line or go to https://www.calgary.ca/311.html to document any road safety or infrastructure issues. Please copy the OCA, giving us your Service Request number, so we can evaluate and possibly add to our OCA Oakridge list of projects, mentioned above, that need addressing.
Climate Change Emergency and OCA Mitigation
For overall details of the City’s initiatives, see https://www.calgary.ca/environment/climate/climate-change.html. Enmax presented their plan of installing solar panels on the OCA Facilities Roof, subject to several approvals, to the OCA Board at our January meeting. The OCA Board is continuing to support this project with a potential implementation this May, 2023. We continue to look at other climate enhancing opportunities such as electric charging stations as part of an expanded car park, growing trees, working with the Oakridge Community Garden, etc. We are also discussing other improvements with ‘Oh My Oakridge’ such as bike routes between green spaces.
District 32
We have been advised that the Local Area Planning (LAP) activities have been delayed further to post-2025. Details at https://www.calgary.ca/planning/projects.html.
However, many developments are proceeding such as the Co-op, and other changes including review of playgrounds and green spaces. Enmax and Telus are also busy with service upgrades to the area. These incremental changes without an overall plan remain a concern for District 32 participants.
We are in parallel monitoring The Heritage Communities LAP or Growth Plan which is currently in Phase four. It will be brought forward to the Infrastructure and Planning Committee (IPC) on April 5, 2023. Details of the LAP can be found at https://engage.calgary.ca/heritage, and we hope to learn more from their experience.
