A townhouse development and 4.4-acre park will be permitted for a parcel of land known as the Burke Mountain Ranch despite opposition from residents who believe the project will create more traffic in the area.
Of the 50 residents who took part in a public consultation process, 95% were opposed to the construction of 90 to 100 townhouse units, with two thirds saying it would create safety issues on local roads. Several other people expressed concerns that the development would tax an already limited supply of parking in the neighbourhood, according to a staff report.
“My concern is traffic on Princeton,” said Mary Falco, a resident who spoke during a public hearing Monday evening, later adding, “The congestion will just be insane.”
But city staff said the roads in the area are built to handle the increased traffic, noting that an elementary school, which would be a major traffic generator during peak periods, was originally slated for the property. There will also be 75 new parking spaces in the area to accommodate the park.
Raymond Nothstein, the vice-president of development and planning for Wesbild, the proponent of the land use change, said the company would contribute 1.4 acres of land for the park. It would also split the costs of building park amenities and a sports field with the city.
“We believe we can bring this park forward much earlier than had been anticipated in [the city’s] master plan,” he said during Monday’s meeting. “We anticipate having this park open in 2018 with the support of council.”
Still, the promise of a new park did little to persuade residents who are skeptical of the proposal.
Janet Klopp, a Burke Mountain resident and speaker at Monday’s public hearing, noted that the new homes would be built at the top of a creek bank, which she said raises environmental concerns.
Klopp added that with so much development on the Burke Mountain, water is not able to permeate the ground so that it can slowly drain into the nearby waterways, creating consistent flows.
City staff pointed out that retention ponds and rain water management mimic the natural watershed but Klopp responded by saying she “would prefer to defend the creek than mitigate.”
Council passed fourth and final reading of the zoning amendment Monday night, with Coun. Bonita Zarrillo opposing the changes.
A development variance permit is required before a company can build on the property.
gmckenna@tricitynews.com
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