Peaks of Grassi Neighbourhood – History in the making -- Prepared July 13^th, 2015

Where are we situated?

The Peaks of Grassi and Quarry Pines neighbourhood is a very close-knit community “sandwiched” between the North of Ha Ling Peak and the South of Quarry Lake, in Canmore, Alberta, Canada.  The  Quarry Lake Recreation Area is in our backyard!  The west side of the neighbourhood is 200 meters from the South side of the lake, closer even than the QL parking lot is on the North side of the Lake.

The Quarry Lake Local Habit patch is adjacent to the West end of Lawrence Grassi Ridge. 

The Highline Trail is accessed from the PoG neighbourhood.  Residents enjoy hiking and biking it given that it is so close to this neighbourhood.  Neighbours also enjoy  using the adjacent “Quarry” as their “swimming hole”.   In the summer, children and their parents can be seen hiking along the Power Line Trail toward the beach (Quarry Lake).

The few patches of undisturbed natural areas, treed lots, and rock outcrops at the West of the neighbourhood make this community very unique in Canmore.   Grassi Lakes and the Nordic Centre are an easy 5 minute drive from door-steps.

Demographics

The neighbourhood is composed of full and part time residents from all walks of life and all demographic groups, including:  ski instructors/coaches, teachers, health care professionals, accountants, engineers, pilots, lawyers, judges, retired air force officers, construction trades, and many other trades and professions.  Any census of the neighbourhood would be very representative of all the socio-demographic groups of Canmore. Some residents bought their homes to be part time residents with the objective of retiring full time to Canmore.  Many of them have since retired in Canmore and now call PoG home year-round.    

All residents, full time or part time, form a very close-knit community of involved and caring residents that have banded together over the years for the common good of the community.

History of the Peaks of Grassi Neighbourhood

1992 -- The PoG neighbourhood was part of the development of Three Sisters Lands, after the coal mines closed in Canmore.  The future PoG neighbourhood was designated as Pods 7 & 8 and the land to be used for the PoG was restricted to 45 acres.  Three Sisters Lands development was approved by the 1992 decision of the National Resources Conservation Board (“NRCB”), and the objective of the board’s decision was to protect the development of the former mine lands for the benefit of all Albertans. 

1996 -- In April 1996, Three Sisters Resorts Inc. (“TSRI” ) applied to have “pods 7 & 8”  of PoG in Three Sisters Lands re-zoned from Conservation Forest in order to start development of phase one of the community.  In July 1996, By-law 12(Z) 96 approved Phase II of the PoG development, but denied the TSRI request for denser development. The combined area sought for Pods 7 & 8 was 61.52 acres, which was more than the 45 acres approved by the NRBC decision. In July 1996, TSRI appealed the Canmore Council’s decision to the Municipal Government Board.  

1997 The Town of Canmore was granted leave to appeal by a Justice of the Alberta Court of Appeal, on various questions of jurisdiction and law.  The right to appeal, brought TSRI back to the table to negotiate an agreement for the future development .

1998 – On July 14, 1998 after long, arduous and costly negotiations, the Town and TSRI reached an agreement known as the “Settlement Agreement”.  Phase III of the PoG (Quarry Pines area of the PoG neighbourhood) was allowed to be developed as it currently exists.  It was marketed as “a new secluded residential neighbourhood nestled in the pines above Quarry Lake). The PoG would be forever limited to 45 acres and 404 units by the Settlement Agreement.

In exchange for the restricted size of the PoG development described in the Settlement Agreement, TSRI was allowed to proceed with all the development that it subsequently built “down valley” on Three Sisters  lands east of the PoG neighbourhood. 

The PoG neighbourhood  having reached the 45 acres and 404 units, is considered “built out” for purposes of development.  No further expansion is to be permitted in this neighbourhood.