Lawrence Grassi Middle School Land Redevelopment
The Lawrence Grassi School site is located in the Town of Canmore, Alberta. The site is owned by the Canadian Rockies Public Schools (CRPS). The entire site is approximately 3.59 hectares (8.8 acres). Located on the southern portion of this site, the CRPS propose a small community oriented residential development.
On behalf of CRPS, MTA Architects will be submitting a new Area Redevelopment Plan (ARP) Bylaw in the new year. If the ARP is approved, a Land Use Amendment application will be submitted to re-designate this portion of the school site from PD-Public Use District to a Direct Control Bylaw based on the Town’s Medium Density Residential District. Application for a Land Use Amendment will follow quickly after the adoption of the ARP by Council. The rezoning will enable the community oriented residential to be constructed.
Site Size
3.59 Hectares (8.8 Acres)
Timing of construction will be dependent upon approvals.
Throughout the website, there are opportunities for comments and a series of questions that will help focus your response. We welcome your comments and will do our best to integrate them into our Plan moving forward.
Engagement
Representatives from the town of Canmore have acknowledged that in-person engagement is not safe or possible during the COVID-19 pandemic. In order to ensure that members of the public have an opportunity to review the proposed development, this website will be utilized for this project in addition to four, one-hour virtual Townhalls that we held.
This is what we heard:
Canadian Rockies Public Schools
Canadian Rockies Public Schools (CRPS) is a small school division within the provincial public system. It provides public educational services for students living in the Bow Valley through a total of seven elementary, middle, and high schools as well as an alternative school. The goal of CRPS is to be a destination for world class education, research and sustainability. A viable, resilient school division will ultimately benefit the entire community.
The Lawrence Grassi Middle School (LGMS) is one of the seven CRPS schools in the Bow Valley. The LGMS school site has been an important part of the town of Canmore since 1896 and will continue to be well into the future. Canmore’s first school was built on the current LGMS site in 1896 and the Lawrence Grassi School started construction in 2006 and opened in 2008.
Site Vision & Emerging Concept
Diversifying housing opportunities for Canmore.
CRPS vision for the southern most areas of the site include a medium density residential development that will increase housing diversity within the town of Canmore. This residential development will also provide much needed housing at a variety of price points for those wishing to live and work in the centre of the town of Canmore. Some of the housing will be dedicated to staff and their families. This allows CRPS to provide affordable housing options for staff in an existing residential setting close to the school and other important amenities. Retaining and attracting staff is critical for the provision of high-quality education and the sustainability in the education system in Canmore. Affordable housing will be a big draw.
Creating a Legacy for CRPS Students.
Proceeds of the residential development will support the long-term sustainability of CRPS and seek to stabilize swings in education funding. Proceeds will also support the Board’s desire to nurture students’ growth and learning through the support of existing programs as well as new programs and educational services that in in development. A Legacy Fund will be established. A viable, resilient school division will ultimately benefit the entire community.
Land Use and Policy Alignment
On behalf of CRPS, MTA Architects will be submitting a new Area Redevelopment Plan (ARP) Bylaw sometime early in the new year. If the ARP is approved, a Land Use Amendment application will then be submitted to re-designate this portion of the school site from PD-Public Use District to a Direct Control Bylaw based on the Town’s Medium Density Residential District. The application for a Land Use Amendment will follow quickly after the adoption of the ARP by Council. The rezoning will enable the residential development to be built.
Built Form
The built form includes stacked townhomes in 1, 2- and 3-bedroom configurations as well as smaller apartments. This is consistent with the surrounding residential areas particularly those on 7th and 7th. The Plan contemplates a 6-metre buffer between the new homes and existing homes to the east of the development. This exceeds what is typically seen on infill developments in Canmore. Environmentally responsible design will inform the decisions made as the project moves forward into the next phase of design. Low level site lighting and other Crime through Prevention Crime Prevention through environmental design (CPTED) principles will also influence the next phase of site design.
