Cochrane Councillor Morgan Nagel was alone in his vote to defer a temporary halt on residential land use until further information could be provided by administration in regards to the financial implications of doing so. 

Nagel's Motion on Notion is for Cochrane to freeze development until firm (in writing) commitment can be given to bridge construction as well as the intersection of Highway 1A and 22.

Nagel feels like we have sold out our town.

"A really sad part of me feels like we are ruining our town, and  I wish there was more I could do to stop it."

Nagel says Cochrane's infrastructure can't handle more growth especially considering the 14,000+ people possibly coming from the proposed, Rocky View County, Glenbow Ranch development. While Nagel knows Cochrane may not have any influence on the Rocky View development, importance needs to be placed on managing our own growth.

"It sometimes it feels like we give too much attention to the wants of the development community. It feels like the government and protocol establishment in our little small town Cochrane is just so convinced that development is just this fantastic thing. But when you walk around and talk to the regular people who live in Cochrane, I don't hear one person say 'I want more development, please build some more houses in my town.' It kind of feels like we forget what it is we are supposed to be doing, we are paid to do what people want us to do."

Nagel appreciates the fact that we need the money from development levies and fees, but he also feels there are other avenues Cochrane could take when it comes to benefitting financially, such as freezing municipal wages and getting a grasp on unnecessary spending.

Nagel is hopeful his fellow councillors will continue to push back on future growth, because in his mind we can't continue this way until our traffic gets sorted out.

READ MORE:

Councillor Nagel Takes a Stand on Future Development