Some Sherwood Park residents oppose site for proposed Boys and Girls Club building – Edmonton | 24CA News

A transfer meant to enhance the lives of kids in Sherwood Park has as a substitute pitted teams of adults in opposition to one another.

The Strathcona County Boys and Girls Club already serves greater than 2,000 youngsters however has a ready record of 800 extra and needs to construct a brand new facility.

It could be a two-storey, net-zero constructing with area for a wide range of programming.

The BGC and county have agreed on a chunk of land within the Brentwood neighbourhood, beside the group’s elementary college — however some space residents are pushing again in opposition to the plan that may see the constructing constructed the place a grove of bushes at present sits.

The BGC has wished a brand new facility for a decade now however securing land and sufficient cash to assemble a constructing has been an impediment for the non-profit.

BGC board president Alison Ottewell stated the group had been in talks with Strathcona County since spring of 2022 about figuring out an acceptable piece of land.

The membership additionally utilized to the federal authorities’s Green and Inclusive Community Buildings Program and in December 2022, heard again that it may have 60 per cent of its $10-million facility coated by the GICB program — if it had land able to go by the tip of February.

“Having the federal government announce this really put some pressure on us,” Ottewell stated.

The membership and county shortly started assessing potential choices and decided land beside Brentwood Elementary School was the most effective match.

“Working in conjunction with administration from the county, we were able to secure the Brentwood location — which was a key element in order to be able to submit the grant application for the GICB funding,” Ottewell stated.

A public listening to was held Feb.14, the place council heard from greater than 35 audio system each for and in opposition to the Brentwood Elementary School website.

The county determined to take away the land’s municipal reserve standing so it might be donated to the BGC.

The county stated it considers handing over reserve land for initiatives akin to colleges, inexpensive housing initiatives, group hubs/halls, sports activities fields and buildings.

Each request is checked out on a case-by-case foundation to see if it’s match for the world, Strathcona County Mayor Rod Frank stated.

“It’s a very normal process for organizations to come forward and want to contribute to the community and they need land, in some cases,” Frank stated.

Frank stated council agreed to grant the land this earlier than the February deadline, however that was conditional on BGC securing federal funding and consulting space neighbours on the plan.

The county additionally stated the Boys and Girls Club wants to switch any bushes and habitat eliminated due to the development.

“The ball’s in BGC’s court right now. They have to come back, shows the conditions have been met: shows they talked to the neighbourhood, show us that they’re going to replace the trees and the habitat, and show us that they have the funding.

“So until they go over those hurdles, nothing’s going to happen.”

It isn’t a performed deal and a few residents are working to maintain it that manner.

Those who stay within the space are involved about elevated visitors — particularly on college days the place there’s already congestion — the dimensions of the constructing and dropping bushes.

Vanessa Sherburne’s husband grew up throughout the road from the Brentwood School website, performed within the grove of bushes and the couple needs the world to stay as is so their son can get pleasure from the identical expertise.

Sherburne stated the county’s determination was rushed and there was not sufficient group session.

“They (BGC) insist on Brentwood, despite the fact that building here would require destroying this forested area that is really treasured by the community. And so people were really upset when they learned of this — after the decision had been made is when most people found out.”

Sherburne’s emotions are echoed by the 611 folks who signed a petition.

“This isn’t just a case of a few disgruntled residents who don’t want to see change in their neighbourhood. This is a substantial build,” she stated.

“There are some conditions, but we don’t have a lot of faith that those conditions will be followed.”

The county stated alternate websites have been reviewed and thought of much less appropriate, because the Boys and Girls Club’s wants included the land being roughly 1.5 to 2 acres in dimension, centrally positioned to assist the present inhabitants, shut to varsities, in proximity to passive and energetic recreation, on a transit route and inside strolling distance to facilities such because the library.

The Brentwood neighbourhood is simply south of the Strathcona County Library, Salisbury Composite High and St. Theresa Catholic School.

Another resident, Perry Gould, launched a GoFundMe that’s raised greater than $7,700 to rent a lawyer to combat the proposal.

Gould stated he has lived within the neighbourhood for greater than three a long time and worries concerning the high quality of life deteriorating.

“It really, truly comes down to a lot of safety issues,” he stated, including visitors is already very congested on college days and including a facility that brings extra households into the world will simply make it worse.

“I bought here for a reason. I didn’t buy here to live beside a structure the size of a hotel that’s truly operational 364 days a year.”

Ottewell stated the Boys and Girls Club is dedicated to being neighbour in Brentwood, has held one open home and goals to carry one other one within the fall when it has extra info to share.

“Our mandate is to be nearly as good of a neighbour as potential to the residents in Brentwood — however our focus is on the youngsters.

“Having an 800-child waitlist right now is something we can’t ignore. So we’re really excited about moving this project forward.”

Before that may occur, the Boys and Girls Club wants the federal authorities grant to be authorized — one thing which may not occur till early 2024.

“We don’t have the final design in place right now. We’re taking things one step at a time. And the first big milestone for us to achieve is to secure the funding,” Ottewell stated.

“We’re in a bit of a holding pattern right now.”

The county stated if BGC just isn’t profitable with grants and fundraising, the land will revert again to Strathcona County.

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