Councillors debate whether Westheath is the right location for new school

While most city councillors think a new school on South Hill is a good idea, some believe the proposed location is just not the right site.

City council received an assessment report during its Nov. 23 regular meeting that summarized what effect the additional traffic that the joint-use school would generate could have on the Westheath neighbourhood.

Council eventually voted 6-1 to let both Moose Jaw school divisions and the Ministry of Education proceed with an amendment to the Westheath concept plan for phases 5 and 6 to include the new joint-use school, while recommending that the parties incorporate strategies to mitigate the expected extra traffic.  

Coun. Kim Robinson was opposed.

Council discussion

“I’m still struggling with this. I don’t believe the site is the right location,” said Coun. Dawn Luhning.

However, because the ministry and boards of education for Holy Trinity Catholic and Prairie South school divisions decided Westheath was the location they wanted, “it’s unfortunate” that they dropped this decision onto the municipality without including council in the decision, she continued.

“If we’d been included in the planning, I would feel better. But taxpayers will be the ones holding the bag to build more roadways over there,” Luhning said. “… something about it is telling me it’s not the right location.”

She added that she would vote in favour now since a revised concept plan must come back and public input must be sought before the next steps can occur.

Coun. Crystal Froese also expressed misgivings about the location, which she’s had since the beginning. Specifically, she was concerned about what the Official Community Plan says about placing schools closer to parks.

She pointed out that Sunningdale was the last new school built in Moose Jaw and a neighbourhood sprouted up around that area. She said she would vote in favour since she wanted the public to give input.

“(The school is) definitely for South Hill residents, but it is a school for the city,” Froese said. “Children all over the city can actually go to the school … our students deserve a brand-new school and all the amenities and wonderful things that will come from this school that will benefit everyone.”

Another issue from the assessment report that caught Froese’s attention was how traffic mitigation measures focused on the school’s immediate area. She had hoped the report would show the ripple effect on the entire southwest corner of the city since there are limited access points and it is far from arterial roads.

Safety concerns

It’s great that the ministry and school boards will pay the applicable development levies, said Coun. Heather Eby. She is happy with the agreement, although she was also worried about what the report would say. She has always been in favour of the site and doesn’t want to hold up the project.

“I took a walk out there. It will change the neighbourhood and traffic patterns, but that’s not any different than anywhere else in the city,” she continued.

She added that while some people have safety concerns about dropping off kids at the new school, she noted one of the most dangerous places is in front of Empire and Riverview schools.

Mayor Fraser Tolmie agreed with Eby, saying he drives down Coteau Street every morning and sees parents unloading their kids even though that road is busy.

While Tolmie thought the current school buildings are beautiful and he appreciates their historical value, they were built when there were no buses and most students walked. Now, society had changed and modernized with more vehicles.

Tolmie added that he had faith in both school divisions to facilitate the new joint-use building.

Most people in Westheath with whom Coun. Jamey Logan has spoken are supportive of the school location, he said. Also, he believes the collector roads and area streets will handle the extra vehicles well.

The next regular council meeting is Monday, Dec. 7.