Save Brentwood Forest

On Feb 14, 2023, Strathcona County Council initiated transferring a parcel of land (outlined in red on map shown) to the BGC (Boys and Girls Club) to allow construction of a large 43-foot facility. The BGC plans to build on site “A.”

Mayor Rod Frank and several Councillors admitted during the Feb 14 Council meeting that the land designation change and land transfer process was rushed and that Brentwood community residents were not consulted; but Council pushed ahead and made a hasty decision because the BGC needed to have land secured in order to apply for the Green and Inclusive Community Buildings (GICB) Grant by Feb 28.

Community residents were blindsided due to inadequate consultation. Only residents facing Brentwood Elementary were notified of the public hearing at the Feb 14 Council meeting. Many residents spoke in opposition, but Council moved to remove the municipal reserve designation in order to transfer the land to the BGC for development.

The public hearing only represented one side fairly. The BGC and Council members had years of background information, planning and preparation, whereas the few Brentwood residents who received notification had days to prepare, with no advance knowledge of the project scale/scope, design, or potential impacts on the community. Councillor Lorne Harvey said, “The notice that went out was about rezoning. The information presented at the meeting was not available to residents beforehand, and that is unfair to the residents” (Council Meeting, Feb 14, 2023 Video at 11:06:24).

At the public hearing, Council members asked Brentwood residents whether they preferred Site A or Site B for the BGC facility; every resident chose Site B or neither. However BGC pushed for their preferred Site A, and Council gave them Site A for development. The only choice that Council gave to community residents was disregarded.

Residents believe that transferring the land to the BGC was decided long before the Council meeting on Feb 14, 2023, making the public hearing a formality rather than an opportunity for meaningful input. BGC posted on their website: 

“Over the past 5 years we have diligently worked toward our goal of constructing our own BGC building in the heart of Strathcona County. Through feasibility studies, countless conversations with County administration and County Council we have finally reached a major milestone. On January 31, 2023, Strathcona County Council made a motion to move forward with the next step of our potential Capital Project Build. This next step is removing the municipal reserve designation from a site at BRENTWOOD near the Brentwood Elementary School.” Source

During those years of planning and “countless conversations,” no conversations were held with Brentwood residents. Council knew about these plans well in advance but there was no community engagement. At the Feb 14 Council meeting, the panel for the BGC said their tight timeline did not afford them the opportunity to engage with the community; however, BGC had enough time for conversations with Elk Island Public Schools, Brentwood Elementary Administration staff, the Parent Council at Brentwood Elementary, and even a local football club. Although the BGC panel said they had intentions of consulting with Brentwood community later on, Councillor Lawrence pointed out:

"It’s just frustrating, I think if I lived in that community, I’d want a little input before tonight, because if this were to pass, well, the cow’s kind of already out of the barn. Yes, you can work with the community and negotiate things, but they don’t have much of a hammer at that point." (Council Meeting, Feb 14, 2023 Video at 11:04:41)

Several Council members (including ones who voted in favour) stated that the process to remove the Municipal Reserve designation and transfer the land to the BGC did not follow normal practice, and questioned fairness of the decision-making process to Brentwood community residents. Councillor Bill Tonita, who strongly supported the BGC, said:

“It’s an incredibly difficult decision. We’re facing a time crunch. … It’s not a normal process in the sense that you have this situation and you have a deadline looming…That makes it even more challenging to try to make a decision which is mindful and respectful of the needs of the community. But it is what it is. We do need to make a decision.” (Council Meeting, Feb 14, 2023 Video at 12:44:50)

The only reason Council “had to” make a decision on Feb 14, 2023 was to meet BGC’s grant application deadline (Feb 28, 2023). The County chose to circumvent their normal practices in order to meet the BGC’s deadline, which came at the cost of adequate or fair community consultation. Council showed bias by supporting the BGC and ignoring the residents’ input.

After the Council meeting, residents learned of other municipal sites that have been offered to the BGC, including a school with the infrastructure to hold the capacity of their program with similar amenities in walking proximity. Other locations had been offered to the Club but they ultimately wanted to build in Brentwood because of the amenities it offers. Ironically, the top amenity listed by BGC in their sample promotional material was Brentwood’s “greenspace including natural tree stands.” There are ample amounts of municipal underdeveloped or vacant land more suitable for a project of this magnitude that would not have such a substantial impact on a mature residential community and the environment.

Council passed a motion to negotiate a land transfer agreement with BGC with five conditions, including “robust consultation with neighbourhood.” Consultation means that residents’ input would be taken into consideration, but residents wonder what “robust consultation” could possibly happen at this point since BGC secured their desired site and has already designed their building. BGC got everything they asked for despite community opposition. It’s not consultation if the community can’t say no.

Even Mayor Rod Frank questioned the fairness of the proceedings to Brentwood community residents:

“It is a difficult decision, and those opposed live in the neighbourhood, they invest their time and their money, this is their home, they use the lands, they know it better than any of us. They have very legitimate concerns, and I think there was a misstep tonight: they weren’t consulted. It was a short timeframe but who’s #1 on the list to talk to? It’s your neighbour. ... I hear you that it was rushed, but that has to take place, especially going forward. You cannot build a building of this magnitude without bringing in the entire neighbourhood.” (Council Meeting, Feb 14, 2023 Video 12:58:48)

Residents are not against the BGC and appreciate what it offers to Strathcona County families; however, there are several concerns with constructing a BGC Strathcona County Hub in Brentwood including:

1. The loss of a valued natural area in the centre of a mature neighbourhood and the adverse effects to wildlife species including habitat fragmentation. County officials and/or the BGC have not conducted an environmental impact study or wildlife surveys. Removing the Municipal Reserve Designation to allow BGC’s development contradicts several objectives of Strathcona County’s Environmental Framework, specifically L1, L2, L3, L8, and B2.
2. The scale of the development:
• the size of the building and parking lot
• the strain on municipal water, gas, and sewage infrastructure
3. The drastic increase in the number of individuals using neighbourhood amenities and the safety issues that could arise from this increase (no current or future safety audit provided by county officials).
4. Significant increase in traffic. County officials and/or the BGC have not conducted traffic studies for the neighbourhood or connecting roadways.
5. BCG’s planned building contradicts the guiding principles of the Strathcona County’s Mature Neighbourhood Overlay Bylaw 32-2016. The building’s impacts on property values and property taxation have not been assessed. 
6. The general well-being including mental health for residents.