I am writing to strenuously oppose the development that Westrich Pacific Corp. has proposed for 118 St. in Windsor Park. I have resided in Windsor Park for more than 20 years. During that time the City has taken measures to increase density. I understand the purpose of that but it must be done within reason. The Bentley was an acceptable addition to the neighbourhood. Windsor Park Terrace not so much because it is far too tall. However, both of these properties face onto 87th Avenue, which allows access to them without entering the neighbourhood's quiet residential streets.

The Westrich Pacific proposal is particularly repugnant because of its location. First of all, it is not on a major road, a violation of current infill guidelines. This means all of its residents will have to use neigbourhood streets or alleys to access the property. Please keep this traffic on the major thoroughfares.

To make matters worse, the proposed site is directly across from an elementary school and playground. The last thing that is needed near a school is high traffic volumes. In addition, it is very likely that young families will occupy this development, in which case the existing elementary school will be far too small. If the developer gets his wish and builds on this site, a major part of the development should be an extension of the school. This should be a burden on the developer, not the taxpayer.

Expanding the North-South alley to be 6m wide isn't enough. A vehicle like a Ford Bronco is 2.2m wide, meaning it would be very difficult for two such vehicles to pass in the alley. In addition, I don't see how Westrich can expand that alley all the way from 87th to 89th Avenue because it does not own the last few properties on either side of the alley's north end. And what about the East-West alley, doesn't it need to be widened as well?

Another traffic consideration is how, during rush hour, will the Westrich residents get onto 87th Avenue if they have to make a left turn? There is no traffic light to give them the right of way, so it must be expected they will drive into the neighbourhood and over to 116th Street where there is a traffic light. This brings the traffic further into the neighbourhood and increases the traffic on 116th Street. Perhaps a traffic light is needed where the North-South alley meets 87th Avenue and not just a Stop sign.

I think it is inappropriate for this development to be given serious consideration until Windsor Terrace is up and running. We do not know what traffic impact it will have. Moreover, of all the people in Windsor Park the eventual occupants of Windsor Terrace will be among the most affected by the noise and traffic of the Westrich development, and some of them will have their privacy heavily impacted because they will have a neighbour (in Westrich) staring into their apartment across a narrow alleyway. Surely the occupants of Windsor Terrace have a right to be consulted before the Westrich development is approved.

I would also urge you to consider having substantial commercial space, and appropriate parking for it, included in this development if you approve it. But I dearly hope you do not approve it in any form. It is in a completely inappropriate place.

The very minor changes to the developers application do not change the fact that this development does not belong in the centre of a mature residential neighbourhood and across from an elementary school.
There is already a massive apartment complex (Windsor Terrace) being built on 87 ave. just south of where this development is proposed and this one is not only larger but encroaches deep into the neighbourhood. The impact of the existing build needs to be assessed before further large developments are considered.
The city is in the process of reviewing and possibly changing our zoning bylaw and developing a City District Planning Policy and a Scona District Plan. A zoning change to enable the Westrich development, which is a significant departure from normal community development, should not take place at this time.
I remain 100 percent opposed to this development proposal.

Transportation Improvements
In the original data from Huberman Transportation Consultants they predict that 800 trips per day will go up and down the north south alley between 87 Ave and 89 Ave.
This is a huge volume of traffic, one trip every minute for 18 hours a day.
The mitigation for this is to upgrade the alley to 6 metres wide.
Two sedan type cars will be unable to pass each other, leading to chaos, delay and danger in this small alley from too much traffic.
I suspect that the data on which Huberman makes these projections are not real and only assumptions.
in which case their whole document is a flawed construct with no values on which a reasonable decision can be made.
Environmental Issues.
No concessions have been made to the loss of trees, the demolition of houses less than 5 years old and the creation of an urban heat island.
Our mayor has just gone to COP27 to relay what wonderful stewards of the environment we are in Edmonton and yet we infill over lawns and cut down trees with abandon with nary a thought for the cooling effect of the features of our landscape.
This development should not proceed on this site.
There are plenty of surface parking lots in the centre of Edmonton where this would be a desirable development.
Alternatively, Blatchford Fields is seeking developers.

Same concern as before. A vibrant community has all age groups. This building needs 3 bedroom units for young families to grow in. Our community is becoming a place of university students and old folks with nowhere for the young families to live. Please insist on some 3 bedroom units. 50% 2 bedroom units is not specific enough.
Thanks Elizabeth Millar

Minor improvements that do not at all alter the fact that this proposal is trying to insert a major apartment complex in the middle of a residential neighbourhood and across the street from an elementary school. I remain opposed to the rezoning.