Nightmare On 90th: The Tragedy of The Commons – The Proposal for A High-Density Glenmore Landing
by Marvin Levant
I am a physician and have lived and worked in Calgary for 55 years. I have been a resident in Pump Hill for 35 years.
I am going to write about the “Tragedy of the Commons”, a well-known expression. This involves city planning: Where is the Area Structure Plan? Much has changed since 2015 when the city fought tooth and nail to the supreme court to keep the parklands.
Below are my environmental concerns including those to do with traffic, water, and air quality that are expected to result from the sale and (currently proposed) development of the parkland next to Glenmore Landing.
The term “Tragedy of the Commons” refers to the situation where individuals, acting independently and rationally, exploit a shared resource, leading to its degradation or depletion. Without proper regulation or mechanisms to manage a resource, the result is too often overconsumption, environmental degradation or even the collapse of the resource system. Hence the need for wise planning and collective action to preserve the resource.
Traffic
How on earth will the intersection at the south of Glenmore Landing be able to accommodate thousands more vehicles, in addition to all of the vehicles that will use the same intersections to access the developments on the land on the south side of 90th Avenue?
Water: Our Reservoir
If adding thousands of new residents at Glenmore Landing, consider the effect of adding more dogs. In a recent survey, it was found that roughly half of the homes in a city have a dog. While many responsible dog owners will pick up their dog’s poop, some faecal bacteria do remain near the paths next to our reservoir, which gets washed into the water with rain or melting snow. Increased E Coli means increased treatment and cost, while degrading the quality of the drinking water.
Increased crowding on pathways next to the reservoir increases the risk of collisions between cyclists and pedestrians.
The water table is high in Haysboro and Pump Hill. The pumping station at BRT, 90th and 14th was installed because of frequent flooding in the area. From personal experience I know that under my basement excavation in Pump Hill we found an underground stream just two blocks from the parkland/berm in question. Underground parking for the proposed high rises would puncture through the water table. If there is leakage there, will that reduce the water level in the reservoir?
Sewer lines
Will the old sewer lines nearby, including Haysboro and Kelvin Grove, be able to handle thousands more users? Who will pay for flood damage and sewer repairs? Who will bear the burden of the financial costs of sewer excavations and renovation?
Air quality
There will be degradation of air quality from idling cars in long traffic jams and cars dealing with inadequate access and egress from Glenmore Landing. Exhaust fumes will affect people with asthma and chronic lung problems particularly those living in the elder facilities nearby.
In the US alone there are more than 2,200 premature deaths annually as a result of air pollution. City administration has declared a climate emergency. The more densification, the more we need parkland.
Birds
As in other cities where high rise buildings are built near water, migratory birds will be faced with walls of glass, and many will die as they collide with the glass fronts of these building.
Where is the consideration of these and other unforeseen consequences?
I predict that the “Tragedy of the Commons” will play out here if this development is allowed to proceed.
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