A public information meeting about a proposed townhouse project in Brackendale became raucous as area residents expressed heated opposition to the development.
About 30 residents turned out to the meeting, hosted by Target Real Estate Development Corporation at the Brackendale Art Gallery. However, instead of looking at the details of how the project could proceed, most present said they didn't want the proposal to move ahead at all.
"This is totally inappropriate for our area," said resident Helen Habgood. "I don't think this should go ahead."
A number of community members repeatedly complained to Target representative Grant Gilles that there should not be high density living in their community.
The proposed Brennan Park Townhouse project would see 40 units placed on Brennan Road.
However, despite intense opposition to high density housing - including one woman who held up a picket sign declaring "No More Townhouses" - Gilles did not appear shaken or surprised.
He made it clear that the area has long been zoned for this type of development.
"This is the second public meeting that we have had on this," said Gilles.
"If you have concerns about the site, how utilities would work, how sewage would work, how drainage would work, then I want to talk about it and hear what you have to say and we can work on it.
"But I'm not the one you talk about zoning with. If you have a problem with the zoning, if that's what you have an issue with, talk to council, not to me. I'm tired of this."
Despite Gilles's rebuttal, questions about the R4 zoning - which has been in place since 1986 - continued to be raised throughout the evening, with only one resident coming to the developer's defence.
"This man is making a presentation, getting mad at him doesn't make a difference," said Brackendale resident Wayne Bert. "He's a business man. We're supposed to go to the district if we have problems with the zoning. Getting angry doesn't help."
A motion to de-zone the lot was defeated last June in a 3-2 vote at council. Councillors Patricia Heintzman and Corinne Lonsdale supported the move to de-zone the property, while councillors Mike Jenson, Jeff McKenzie and Mayor Ian Sutherland were against de-zoning. Coun. Raj Kahlon was absent. Target had already purchased the land with the intent of developing it at the time of the vote."Obviously council has dealt with this before," said Heintzman.
"This is a development that has been an issue for a long time with the residents of the area. I really don't know what we can do if we were to bring it back again. I definitely won't be surprised if the residents of Brackendale ask us to de-zone this again."
