Dear Editor,
As a resident of Foothills County, I am deeply frustrated by the actions of our elected officials, who seem to ignore the voices of the very people they were elected to represent.
In June 2024, the council approved a high-density development east of Highway 2, near Aldersyde — the Highfield and Rowland Acres ASP. This development, unprecedented in its scale and density for our area, brings urban-style expansion to our rural landscape.
The proposal faced significant community opposition and minimal public support, aside from a select few who stand to profit from it. We chose to live here for a rural lifestyle, yet our council is attempting to impose an urban reality on us against our will.
The opposition raised clear and compelling concerns about environmental impacts, traffic, public safety, water resources and excessive density. All of this was dismissed, with only minor changes to the original proposal from Township Planning and the Highfield Investment Group.
Adding to the frustration, the council recently voted to reject another high-density proposal, Foothills Landing. Why the double standard? Why was one development rejected while ours was greenlit? Did a passionate defense from a different council member make the difference we didn’t see from our own representative?
It’s time to call out our elected officials for failing their constituents and bending to those solely motivated by profit. Why won’t they fight for us — the residents who trusted them with our votes?
It’s appalling to witness such an erosion of accountability in our local government, with decisions that not only ignore our wishes but also threaten to reshape our way of life.
I urge all readers to contact their representatives and demand that they act in the interest of preserving our rural way of life. We need leaders who will stand up for the communities they were elected to serve, not sell out our future.
Meghan Roszler
Foothills County
