LRT expropriation upsets Strathearn couple
A Strathearn couple is fighting city plans to expropriate a corner of their property for LRT construction that they fear will disrupt their urban “oasis.”
“It’s like a country laneway. The city goes away,” said Wayne Brown, who has lived with his wife Sharon Morganson at 8622 95th Ave. since 1992. “The jackrabbits live there, the birds sing. … It’s an oasis.”
But the city wants to take a seven-metre by seven-metre triangle of land at the corner of 87th Street for a traffic signal and improved sightlines as part of the southeast LRT line.
This will cut access to a sheltered lane on the west side of their property where people picnic, pick lilacs and enjoy the peace, Brown said.
The parents who drive crowds of children to visit their huge Halloween display will also find it harder to drop them off, taking away a seasonal highlight rivalled only by the Christmas decorations, Brown said. “It’s not the money … Do they have to take so much away from everybody? There’s 250, 300 kids. It’s not just the two of us.” 95 Avenue
He’s concerned the proposed low-floor LRT track that will follow 95th Avenue from Connors Road to 85th Street will divide Strathearn in half.
“Once that thing starts rolling, that whole neighbourhood is going to change, really, really change, and we were told at the beginning it would not.”
He admitted it’s an emotional issue, saying they only found out from city officials last month what was happening.
Morganson said a better alternative would be to push work on the intersection slightly west, taking more space from commercial and school properties the LRT will disturb anyway and leaving her home and one other alone.
“Seven by seven doesn’t sound like much … (but) it will affect the way we enjoy our property.”
Their 1950 bungalow is one of 25 southeast residential sites at which the city wants to take property for the proposed LRT. Project manager Nat Alampi said his staff will talk to Brown and Morganson this week, but planners have already reduced the property needed for the line as much as possible.
“I understand their concerns. … That’s why we’re doing our best to mitigate the amount of land that will be required,” he said. “We will have to take a closer look at it. We have already done the bulk of the engineering and that land is required. With respect to what they do on their land, we will work with them to maintain that access.”
They’re the only homeowners to object to possible expropriation, he said. One of the 31 industrial landowners has also objected. While the community services committee recommended council approve starting the expropriation process next week, officials are working with everyone affected in hopes of negotiating settlements, Alampi said.
But Coun. Ben Henderson would like Morganson and Brown left out of this process for now in hopes their concerns can be resolved more easily.
“I think there may be a happy solution if we can just peel this piece off. … I’m not sure there’s a downside to taking a tiny corner cut and finding a solution that works for everybody.”
Although all the funding for the $1.8-billion southeast LRT isn’t in place, the city plans to begin utility relocation this fall and, pending budget approval, construction in 2015.