Truman Proposal Brings Over 1,000 Homes to Springbank Hill
A proposal to bring more than 1,000 new homes to vacant land in a southwest Calgary community will require significant engagement with nearby residents, the area councillor said Thursday.
Truman Homes and CivicWorks are proposing to develop a subdivision on 53 hectares of undeveloped land in the community of Springbank Hill, near Calgary’s western outskirts. The subdivision would be on hilly land on the west side of 85th Street and to the north of 34th Avenue S.W., just northeast of the Calgary ring road and Highway 8 junction.
“These lands have yet to be developed to a typical urban standard,” a Truman spokesperson said in an email. “Our application sets out a comprehensive plan for residential development with new parks and connections, as well as required utility and mobility infrastructure.”
According to the city’s development map, the outline and land-use application provides for 589 low-density homes that could include suites, and 1,408 multi-residential units. However, the Truman spokesperson said those figures were inaccurate. The most current application proposes no more than 1,100 new homes, which would be primarily low-density single-family detached lots. The subdivision would also include semi-detached homes, town homes, and “select parcels in the heart of the plan that allow for four- to six-storey apartment buildings,” the email said.
The development also proposes nearly three hectares of mixed-use space for commercial and residential, and 5.3 hectares that would be dedicated to parks and open space. The proposed density represents nine housing units per acre, which Truman’s email states is the minimum density required for a developing residential area in a planned greenfield area in Calgary’s Municipal Development Plan.
The land-use application is still under review by the city’s development authority and is subject to a future public hearing of city council. Ward 6 Coun. John Pantazopoulos, who represents Springbank Hill, said public consultation will be key as the proposal advances through the city’s pre-development approval process. He said the applicant is hosting an open house about the project on May 7 at Ambrose University, which will provide area residents an opportunity to learn more about the project.
“The messaging we gave to all developers, including Truman, is engage, engage and engage again,” Pantazopoulos said Thursday. “We spent a lot of time during our blanket rezoning conversation talking about (local area plans) and area structure plans … so we definitely need engagement. I want to really hear from Calgarians in the area.”
He noted what’s being proposed would present a “pretty material change” to the Springbank Hill area structure plan. The area is experiencing massive growth, and the proposal aligns with the city’s goals for greenfield development while ensuring that community input shapes the final outcome.
