The proposal for a new two-storey six-plex at the corner of Centennial Street and 12th Avenue in Porter Creek received a rough ride in front of city council Monday night.

All five owners of neighbouring properties who spoke at the public hearing into the rezoning application gave the thumbs down on the town-house development they say would increase density in an already busy section of Porter Creek.

Permitting the subdivision of the corner lot into two or even three single-family residential properties would be preferable, it was suggested.

Having a multi-family residential development of that size would put an even greater squeeze on the short supply of classroom space at Jack Hulland Elementary School that already exists, it was said.

It was also suggested if council approves the application to re-zone the property from single-family to multi-family, it could lose control over what ultimately is built on the site, other than through standing policies guiding multi-family zoning.

There could be a three- or four-storey condominium, council was warned.

"I like my back yard,” Amelia Swizdaryk told members of council. "I do not really want to look up and see a great big huge building in my back yard.

"A house is fine.”

A report on the public hearing will be prepared for city council's Sept. 7 committee meetings.

The bylaw to amend the zoning is scheduled to go before council on Sept. 13 for second and third readings.

Elm Street resident Diane Nikitiuk told the full panel of council members she too is opposed to a large development, but emphasized something needs to be done with the corner property because it's been a neighbourhood eyesore.

Cam Kof said he spent the last four months looking for a home for his family and quite recently settled on the Elm Street location because of its neighbourhood flavour away from busy traffic and multi-family developments.

He told council he knew nothing of the proposed development when he agreed to purchase the property, and suggested many in the neighbourhood still don't know what is being proposed.

Longtime Whitehorse resident Craig Tuton applied in July to amend the zoning from single-family to multi-residential, but suggested at the time there are no final designs, as it would be premature to get into detailed designs prior to rezoning being approved.

City council, however, did ask Tuton for a conceptual drawing to get a better sense of what he is thinking about. That drawing was provided for Monday night's public hearing into the application.

It calls for a six-unit, two-storey townhouse structure under one roof stretching 44 metres (144 feet), with each unit having a main floor area of approximately 864 square feet.

The drawing depicts two storeys above ground, though it's not clear if there would be a full-size or partial basement.

Each unit would be fitted with a front porch overlooking Centennial, with two parking spaces per unit provided along a laneway between the rear of the building and the back of the Elm Street residential properties.

An older house on the well-treed lot would be removed if Tuton proceeds with his plans.

Tuton is out of town and unavailable this morning to discuss how close the conceptual drawing is to what he has in mind for the property.

Under city management policies, however, city council does have the ability to guide developments through development agreements to ensure the end result reflects the original proposal.