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Residents help defeat subdivision proposal

Council turned down a subdivision propsal Tuesday night that residents said would alter their neighbourhood.

Council turned down a subdivision propsal Tuesday night that residents said would alter their neighbourhood.

Project developer Howe Sound Forest Products intended to rezone property at 241 Jacqueline Road. The property currently allows for minimum lot sizes of 1,000 square metres but the developers hoped to re-zone it in order to build a subdivision on minimum lot sizes of 450 square metres. Many area neighbours opposed the development which they said would take away from the semi-rural feel.

“The Quinsam Heights area is attractive to families wanting a rural lifestyle while at the same time it’s close to shopping and amenities,” Michelle White, who established a blueberry farm on the corner of Evergreen and Petersen roads a year ago, told council two weeks ago.

Coun. Claire Moglove agreed with White and others who spoke against the subdivision at a public hearing June 28.

“I think it’s imperative to take into consideration the views of the neighbours,” Moglove said at Tuesday’s council meeting. “People purchased, in good faith, these residential lots that are 1,000 square metres and the effect of this re-zoning – to have these lots right next door cut in half – completely changes their neighbourhood.”

Coun. Ziggy Stewart said as it stands, Quinsam Heights already has a mix of housing. Legacy Estates, a similar type of subdivision, already exists just west of the proposed Jacqueline Road development.

“Sprawl is currently happening,” Stewart said. “People can choose to do what they want with their own property. Things do change.”

Stewart, along with councillors Andy Adams and Ryan Mennie supported the re-zoning but Mayor Charlie Cornfield, who opposed the re-zoning along with councillors Moglove and Mary Storry broke the tie, defeating the development proposal. Coun. Roy Grant excused himself from the discussion to avoid a conflict of interest.