Press Release - RKHCA Advocates for the Thoughtful Redevelopment of the Viscount Bennett Site
- Michael Smith
- Mar 31
- 3 min read
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
The developer and the City have disregarded the community’s vision for responsible redevelopment, refusing to acknowledge or engage in meaningful discussion around the proposal.
Calgary, AB – Monday, March 31 – The Richmond Knob Hill Community Association (RKHCA) has submitted its final redevelopment vision and presentation to City Council ahead of the critical decision on the Viscount Bennett redevelopment, set for Tuesday, April 8.
The RKHCA and the surrounding community have tried to actively engage in the conversation around this redevelopment, providing thoughtful feedback, detailed concerns, and a community-driven vision that prioritizes responsible growth. Despite these efforts, Minto Developments has failed to incorporate community input meaningfully into its plans.
A Vision for Responsible Redevelopment
“The Richmond Knob Hill community is not opposed to development—on the contrary, we welcome a transformation that enhances both the neighbourhood and the city. This site presents a rare and valuable opportunity to create a development that respects the existing community fabric while addressing growth sustainably,” says Marni Evans, Richmond Knobhill resident.
Key Community Concerns:
Lack of Genuine Community Engagement: Despite Minto’s claims of consultation, residents have experienced a process that is neither transparent nor collaborative. Many engagement sessions have been inaccessible, last-minute, or structured to dictate rather than engage.
Unresolved Infrastructure Challenges: The proposed development raises significant concerns about water and sewer capacity, site topography, traffic impacts and a critical shortage of green space.
Misalignment with City Planning Policies: Despite recent density reductions, the proposal does not align with the City’s Municipal Development Plan (MDP) or the original Westbrook Local Area Plan (LAP).
Integrating a new neighbourhood within an established one: The developer and the City have not adequately addressed how the proposed development will blend with the existing community.
What the RKHCA are Asking the City Council to Support:
A scaled-down development that respects the existing neighbourhood character while aligning with MDP guidelines.
Commit to preserving and expanding green space to benefit new and existing residents.
A truly collaborative planning process that acknowledges and incorporates community-driven solutions.
A transparent and comprehensive infrastructure assessment before approval, ensuring responsible urban growth.
The Community’s Commitment to Better Planning
The RKHCA has gone above and beyond to contribute to this process, even organizing independent planning workshops to explore a balanced redevelopment vision. This community-generated plan aligns with city policies on density, green space, built form, and height. However, Minto and the City have disregarded these efforts, refusing to acknowledge or engage in meaningful discussion around the community’s proposals.
Minto’s quote in the Calgary Herald on March 26 states, “Following the initial proposal, notable revisions were made based on community feedback garnered through community engagement sessions.”
The initial proposal by Minto for a 30-storey tower with up to 2,500 units was akin to adding the entire population of the Town of Banff to a site that is only 11 acres in size in an already established community. Therefore, crediting the developer for any size reduction is not a bonus point. Moreover, while Minto highlights feedback from community engagement sessions, it has not been a genuine form of engagement—especially considering the City's requirements for engagement with other communities. In other neighbourhoods, the City has organized workshops and sought input on similar sites. One example is the R.B. Bennett site in Bowness, which was quite similar but yielded significantly different results in terms of densification.
The Richmond Knob Hill community urges the City Council to take a stand for responsible, community-focused development and to reject this application in its current form.
It is crucial that City Council ensures this redevelopment is appropriately executed. Approval of this land use amendment will solidify key parameters, including density and building heights, leaving no room for future revisions that could better integrate the project into the community.
Learn more about the project and the RKHCA’s community engagement efforts at www.richmondknobhill.ca/development.
For more information, please contact:
Kevin Widenmaier
President, Richmond Knob Hill Community Association
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