Ambitious plans to revamp Crowchild Trail with massive changes that threaten neighbouring homes could be headed to the shredder.

A notice of motion signed by eight area aldermen and Mayor Naheed Nenshi says the current concept plan — which plots out several new interchanges, huge ramps and two extra bridges over the Bow River — don’t maintain the integrity of surrounding communities.

The aldermen’s call to cease design on the Crowchild Trail corridor study and return to the drawing board will be debated at Monday’s council meeting.

City hall had proposed to alleviate Crowchild Trail of its traffic lights and snarls with a multi-decade plan to overhaul the thoroughfare between 17th Avenue S.W. and 24th Avenue N.W. Plans would cost between $750 million and $1 billion.

Scores of homes and other properties would have to be cleared out, particularly in West Hillhurst.

Since the plan was revealed last month, public feedback has ranged from excitement to horror, says Ald. Druh Farrell, who added her name to the notice of motion.

“There’s a wide range of attitudes depending on where people live,” said Farrell. “We need to go back to the drawing board to achieve the principles we believe were ignored.”

With so many alderman on board, the motion is bound to succeed Monday.

“We agreed in the motion that improving mobility is an important principal that we can’t lose, but we also need to ensure the surrounding communities are protected and enhanced,” said Farrell.

While motorists cheered plans that would eliminate traffic lights and create three lanes of free-flow traffic in each direction along Crowchild, neighbouring residents are less pleased.

The concept maps show on-ramps stretching over homes in Briar Hill, Scarboro, Sunalta School, West Hillhurst and much of McMahon Stadium parking lot.

News that the plans may get scrubbed is welcomed by those who live nearby and who feared the proposed changes may do more harm than good.

“We like the fact they are looking at shelving the corridor plans. We are in full support of the motion,” said John Wildenborg, president of the West Hillhurst Community Association.

“Hopefully when they go to look at the corridor, they’ll look at it a different way.”

Members of neighbouring communities are galvanizing and forming a citizen coalition to provide a united voice to council, he said.

“We realize it’s more than just an issue for West Hillhurst. It’s an issue for everyone who uses Crowchild Trail. It’s an artery that’s important for a lot of people. We don’t want to pit one community against another.”

Since the plans should consider needs of pedestrians, motorists and public transit, Wildenborg says an outside eye could be helpful.

“Maybe we need some urban planners from outside of the city to look at it differently than how we’re looking at it now. The plan this is based on is based on a 1978 study. It’s not 1978 anymore. Things have changed. There’s different ways of doing things.”

Future phases would eliminate all traffic lights on Crowchild, adding new interchanges at Kensington Road, 16th Avenue and 24th Avenue N.W. The 5th Avenue N.W. intersection would become a flyover, and 23rd Avenue N.W. and McMahon Stadium would likely be accessed by service roads.