Residents of Vista Crescent and Northridge Drive voiced their concerns about a developer's plan to build three houses on three small lots and members of District of 樱桃视频Council got the message.
Four residents expressed concern to the members of council and more speakers were ready to convey the same message. Mayor Ian Sutherland asked if there was anyone in the packed public gallery who wanted to speak in favour of the three houses. There was no response.
Sensing the other members of Council were not in favour of the allowing the three houses to go ahead as the developer had hoped, the mayor suggested Council should recommend the developer's plan be denied. Coun. Ray Peters made the motion and Jeff Dawson seconded it.
In discussing the issue, Coun. Corrine Lonsdale said Vista Crescent had a good mix of homes. She indicated that there were enough small newer two-floor homes on small lots in the neighbourhood already and she was not prepared to allow any more to be constructed.
Coun. Sonja Lebans lives in the neighbourhood.
"We need varying kinds of housing in our community," she said.
Sheila Sullivan, one of the people living in a newer small home in the area, called the newest houses on her street "Lego homes".
Development of the homes was approved by a council Lonsdale sat on. Looking back on that approval, Lonsdale said the lots were too small.
The homes on the lots feature small yards and little to no overhangs on the roofs.
Graham Farstad, a consultant hired by the owner of the lands at the centre of the discussion, said the zoning for the area allows for three-floor homes with detached garages. He said his client was proposing two-floor homes with attached garages. To achieve the developer's desired design permission was needed to build closer to some of the lot lines than the setback rules allow. The developer wanted variances of between 2.22 metres (four feet) and 4.57 metres (15 feet). The developer also wanted Council to allow principal driveway access for the proposed homes from a rear laneway instead of driveways from Vista Crescent.
He said the precedent for the desired variances was set previously when the twelve so-called Lego homes were approved.
The members of Council voted unanimously to deny the variance request. Most of the people in the crowd cheered the decision.
The mayor suggested the developer consider putting only two houses on the three lots.
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