Editor:
Two recent RMO articles, “Project proposed to fill Bear Street lot,” published on Sept. 20, and “Fence battle on Muskrat Street,” published Oct. 11, caught my eye.
It’s obvious from the “…Bear Street Lot” (the lot is actually on Wolf Street) article that the Planning Department is going to bend, if not break, all sorts of regulations in order to allow the construction of the building proposed to replace the existing structure (an oasis, not an “eyesore”).
Mr. McKay, manager of planning and development, will allow the proposed building to be constructed in spite of the facts that “The property, which is surrounded by Cascade Mall, has only has 15.5 metres of street frontage, which limits access for loading, garbage collection and fire exits. A laneway was eliminated pre-incorporation, and “All of the existing site conditions have resulted in what are virtually unprecedented building design constraints,” Enns (Mr. McKay’s assistant) said.”
So the Town will allow construction on a lot that has “unprecedented building design constraints,” but is hassling the Enarsons because they did not seek permission (bad Enarsons) to construct a maintenance-free vinyl fence because, among other reasons, it is too high.
But, you know it’s not nearly as high as LuAnn Mitchell’s fence behind the CIBC or the fence in front of the Banff National Park Superintendent’s residence just a few doors down from Ms. Mitchell’s former temporary home.
Additionally, if you drive down the alleyway behind the Bowker home that the Enarsons have so tastefully and intelligently renovated, you will find wooden white picket fences that are in need of a paint job – an expensive and laborious job. The Enarson’s vinyl white picket fence can be made to sparkle simply by turning a hose on it.
While I believe that someone complained about the Enarson’s lovely fence (I can’t imagine why) it appears that the real issue is that permission was not sought, and granted, to build this near-maintenance-free and environmentally-friendly fence. Mr. McKay could order the removal of the Enarson’s fence, but that would be petty.
It seems to me that if the Town can find solutions to overcome “unprecedented building design constraints” then it should be simple to bend the rules (which need to be amended) so that the Enarsons can keep the beautiful fence that so wonderfully complements their Bankhead home.
Jon Whelan,
Banff
