Dozens of submissions against proposed rezoning that permits infill development in some country residential neighbourhoods were made during a lengthy public hearing in city council chambers Monday evening.

The majority of those speaking out are residents of the Mary Lake subdivision.

Residents argue the proposal, which would see some parks and recreation areas rezoned for country residential lots, flys in the face of city goals outlined in documents like the Official Community Plan and the sustainability plan.

It would see many well-loved trails disappear for development.

Residents also highlighted concerns about the plans over the potential impact on wells, roads and the lifestyle in the neighbourhood that they have come to enjoy.

Under the proposal, the zoning amendments would see:

• a 5.1 hectare parcel on Couch Road rezoned from Parks and Recreation (PR) to Country Residential 1(RC1);

• a 3.2 ha site on Talus Drive rezoned from PR, Greenbelt (PG) and Environmental Protection (PE) to RC1;

• a 2.03 ha area also on Talus Drive rezoned from PE to RC1;

• a 2.71 ha site on Fireweed Drive rezoned from PG to RC1;

• a 3.16 ha site also on Fireweed Drive rezoned also from PG to RC1;

• a 2.08 ha site on Salmon Trail from Future Planning (FP) to RC1; and

• a site (the size of the lot was not provided in city documents) at Magpie Road and Falcon Drive from Neighbourhood Commercial (CN) to Restricted Residential (RR).

There are also other areas around the city that are being considered for infill residential development that do not require rezoning.

Those sites are on Wann Road, Sandpiper Drive and Wilson Drive. Council is expected to consider those under a separate, future resolution.

The infill is being done in an effort to get more lots to market as demand for housing continues to grow.

Many argued last night, however, that adding to country residential neighbourhoods would do nothing to provide affordable housing in the city.

The proposal for rezoning in country residential neighbourhoods has been protested by numerous residents since it was first made public, with signatures gathered in protest and presentations made to council against the plans.

One of the biggest issues to come up last night was over the trails in Mary Lake.

Many took issue with a city report that pointed out the arteries that would be impacted by development are not official trails.

While they may not have made it to any official map or status, delegates argued the “spiderweb” of paths through the neighbourhood are heavily used.

“They’re used year-round for lots of activities,” said Lois Johnston, the first delegate to address council during the public hearing.

Families with young kids are often seen walking or biking along the trails, council members were told.

Many use the area to pick berries, and, for many dogs in the neighbourhood, it’s where they are taken every day for a walk.

“These trails are our sidewalks,” Tamara Young said.

She also mentioned the higher volume and speed of traffic along Fireweed Drive in recent years as the neighbourhood, created in the 1980s, has grown.

Frances Naylen was among a few who pointed out the greenbelt is a place for a wide variety of wildlife.

“I think it is important to save those areas,” she said, after describing the area’s “cacophony of songbirds.”

As many pointed out, the city’s decision to permit garden suites on lots of a certain size means that in some cases, the number of homes on a lot has doubled.

Private development is also underway in the neighbourhood.

Developer Mel Stehelin (who is also a former city councillor) argued the city’s plans are impacting that private development.

Lots for sale

He already has a couple of lots available for sale in the area, with plans in the works for about a half-dozen more to be developed in the coming years.

He noted though, there has only been one person interested in looking at the lots available.

Stehelin suggested many who would otherwise be interested are waiting to see if the city pursues development. In other cases, prices are dropping as the city pursues more development.

“(The) city development is inappropriate,” Stehelin said.

He also pointed out that a lot in Raven’s Ridge that had been listed for $229,000 sold for just $162,000.

Many noted they had bought their property with an expectation that areas zoned for parks, greenbelt and the like would remain as such.

One man said he and his family situated their home in a way that would provide a view of a meadow – land that would be developed with houses under the city’s infilling proposal.

Others pointed to the impact on water wells.

Craig Yakuchuk pointed out that since more development has come to his neighbourhood of Whitehorse Copper in recent years, there’s been a noticeable drop in water production from his well. At one point during the summer, his well went dry.

He pointed out there are many other parts of the city where development could happen where sites already zoned for parks and such would not have to be changed.

“We have so much potential to develop areas,” Yakuchuk said.

Those who have lived in Mary Lake for years told council development of the area only seems to be increasing in recent years.

“It just seems that there’s no end to it,” one delegate said.

Along with presentations to council, the city received a total of 33 written submissions.

Of them, 21 expressed opposition to the rezoning, six highlighted concerns and another six supported the rezoning.

City staff will bring forward a report on the public hearing next week.

Council is then expected to vote on second and third readings of the rezoning a week later.

Coun. Dan Boyd attended Monday’s meeting by conference call.