Turning a site now zoned for residential country homes into a development of up to 25 condominiums would change the face of a Porter Creek neighbourhood for the worse, many residents told city council Monday night.

"It's going to change everything," said Steve Smith.

Smith is a resident of Dogwood Street, one of the three streets that would see the condo development.

The project would see sections of 1800 Dogwood St., along with 18 and 22 Wann Rd., used for the new homes, with the condos on the southern half of the two Wann Road properties and vehicle access and servicing through the southern part of the Dogwood Street lot.

At last night's council meeting, a public hearing was held on the proposal.

Along with the eight residents who spoke out against it, the city received a petition signed by 46 residents against the development, 14 letters in opposition and one letter in favour of it, Rob Fendrick, the city's director of administrative services, told council.

Roseanna Goodman, who is a co-owner of 22 Wann Rd., also addressed council. She argued the single-storey development aimed at older residents who have a steady income would not have the impact residents believe that it would.

"We are being very conscientious," she said.

Like others speaking at last night's public hearing, Goodman noted she and her family are also residents of the neighbourhood and don't want to have a negative impact on it.

Like it or not, Whitehorse and the entire territory is in the midst of economic growth which will bring development sooner or later, she said.

"Right now, in the Yukon, we are seeing major economic development happening," Goodman noted.

The situation is seeing more people move to town and with that comes the housing shortage Whitehorse is experiencing, she added.

"There are many people crying for houses right now and a lot of elders," she said.

Coun. Doug Graham suggested that though the units may initially be sold to elders, there's nothing to stop the units from being sold to younger buyers in the future.

"That has been considered . . . however, the development of a lot of the housing right now in the (Versluice) Meadows has opened up those doors for further development," Goodman responded.

With a single storey for the development, it's not likely to block the view of other residents, be built to the maximum 25 units, or significantly increase traffic in the area, she said.

Though the properties are zoned Residential Country 2 (restricted), Wann Road is already a busy street in Porter Creek, she pointed out.

A park proposed nearby would likely see a significant increase in traffic coming through the neighbourhood, she said.

Among the eight people who spoke out against it, many said they would be more in favour of single-family homes that meet the current Residential Country 2 (restricted) zoning being built on the site rather than the multi-residential development proposed that, in Dave Nugent's words, would bring "too many people" to the area.

One resident commented she had saved up for six years to live in the area and now takes her kids for bike rides around Versluice Meadows.

In addition to the development bringing too many people to the area, building on the land may not be a good idea, she said.

"I think it's bad land use planning to put it on what was marsh area," she said.

Others argued they had moved there because it is in a quiet neighbourhood and a multi-residential development could change many things - in one case, even the way they look after their kids in allowing them to venture off on their bikes.

"It would take away our privacy, our views," said one resident.

More pressure on the area wouldn't be good for the efforts in making part of the area a park, Rheo Bedard told council.

It would also put more pressure on infrastructure that already isn't serving the current population, he argued

"The roads are not up to par even for us now," he said.

He added he would support a local improvement charge for the roads to be upgraded, when asked about it by Coun. Jeanine Myhre.

Another resident said she likes the dirt roads in the neighbourhood and doesn't want to see them paved.

Following Monday evening's public hearing, city staff will prepare a report on the comments made before council votes on second and third readings of the rezoning.