Brackendale residents petitioning to rezone a piece of Brennan Road property to low-density use were disappointed Tuesday (June 6) when council voted not to downzone the land from its multi-family use status.
Council had already resolved to downzone the property in a May 2 closed meeting but had a change of heart after hearing from both sides Tuesday (June 6).
The property has been zoned multiple family use for decades and numerous neighbours requested downzoning when developer Grant Gillies proposed a 43-unit townhouse development for the site. Several of the opponents' letters outlined concerns with neighbourhood character, flooding, traffic safety, and riparian issues.
Property owner Pat Moloney read an impassioned letter demanding council adhere to its own regulations or face a lawsuit. She said downzoning the property now would cause her to lose income and profit. Moloney also said she's been harassed for 14 years by neighbours opposed to her various plans for the property and she's now moving away.
Gillies, who also developed the Paddocks adjacent to the Brennan Road site, said downzoning now would mean a personal loss of $300,000. He said he'd improve diking and drainage with the new development.
Mayor Ian Sutherland said he wasn't at the May 2 in-camera meeting where council decided to downzone and was against the decision.
"[Years ago] The owners could not put in a hobby farm because neighbours opposed based on the fact it was zoned multi-family," said Mayor Ian Sutherland. "What should matter is how we treat our residents. It's morally wrong to downzone now because of Gillies' application."
Coun. Patricia Heintzman called the decades-old zoning of the property "bizarre" because it's in the middle of a rural area. Municipal planner Cameron Chalmers said staff researched the property as far back as 1995 but were as yet unable to find the source of the zoning.
Coun. Corinne Lonsdale said building high-density housing on a flood plain "goes against everything I've been taught." Lonsdale joined Heintzman in supporting the downzoning, but the motion was defeated by Sutherland and councillors Mike Jenson and Jeff McKenzie. Coun. Raj Kahlon was absent.
Council then voted to allow Gillies' development permit process to go forward with Heintzman and Lonsdale opposed.
Quest University announces faculty appointments
Quest University founder Dr. David Strangway and founding director Peter Ufford made a presentation council Tuesday (June 6) introducing the university's newly hired faculty.
"We had 600 applications for four positions," said Strangway.
The university hired seven faculty members altogether, five to join this year and two more in 2007.
