Calgary Minute: Intersection Updates, Styrofoam Pilot, and Arts Commons Designs

Calgary Minute - Your weekly one-minute summary of Calgary politics

This Week In Calgary:

• There will be a Public Hearing on Tuesday at 9:30 am. Several land use amendments are up for discussion. The Intergovernmental Affairs Committee will meet on Wednesday at 9:30 am. The agenda includes a presentation on Matters of Mutual Interest between Alberta Municipalities and the City of Calgary, as well as a confidential Government of Alberta Update. The Calgary Planning Commission will meet on Thursday at 1:00 pm to discuss a number of land use amendments.
  
  
• Calgary is launching a six-month pilot project to collect Styrofoam materials at its three landfills without additional charges for residents. Styrofoam is currently not accepted as part of the City's recycling programs, leading to significant amounts being buried in landfills annually. The collected Styrofoam will be hauled away by Styro-Go Canada, melted down, and turned into small bricks for manufacturing new products like padding for bicycle helmets and children's car seats. Once the pilot concludes, the program will undergo an evaluation to determine if sufficient material has been diverted to justify its implementation.
  
  
• The Aristotle Foundation, a new Canadian think tank that aims to champion reason, democracy, and civilization, is holding their launch gala on Tuesday at the Petroleum Club. Former Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott is the guest speaker, and tickets for the event are available online.

Last Week In Calgary:

• The City has launched a functional planning study to assess potential long-term changes to the Sarcee Trail and Bow Trail SW intersection, aiming to enhance safety and traffic flow based on recommendations from the West Springs Area Structure Plan approved in 2012. The study will outline future design and construction stages depending on funding availability, focusing on preferred interchange options and pathway upgrades for cyclists and pedestrians, as well as assessing the need for a potential interchange at Bow Trail and Old Banff Coach Road SW. Residents can provide feedback through an online form available from April 9th to 29th. Additionally, there will be a virtual information session on April 10th, followed by in-person engagement sessions.
  
  
• Designs have been unveiled for the $660-million Arts Commons transformation, the first phase of which features a new three-level 162,000-square-foot building that will include two theatres. This building, set to be constructed on the L-shaped lot near Teatro restaurant and adjacent to Olympic Plaza, is expected to increase Arts Commons' seating capacity by 45% and be completed by the 2028-29 season. The project, along with a revitalization of Olympic Plaza, is being funded by the City of Calgary and Calgary Municipal Land Corp. As part of the project timeline, Olympic Plaza will be closed, and its programming will be paused by the end of 2024, with reopening planned alongside the new building's completion.
  
  
• The City of Calgary has announced plans to develop a roadmap for long-term water security and reuse strategies through 2100, partnering with WaterSMART Solutions and funded by Alberta Innovates' grant. This initiative comes amidst a Stage 4 drought in the province, with 51 water shortage advisories, including ten in the Bow River Basin. The roadmap will explore various scenarios to determine future water needs, incorporating a Water Reuse Assessment to enhance water supply reliability and diversification. Scheduled for completion in 2026, the roadmap aims to guide not only Calgary's but also other Alberta municipalities' efforts in improved water management.

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