A 4-1 vote by city council has paved the way for developer Craig Tuton to begin working on plans for a six-plex at 1204 Centennial St., a decision that has angered area residents.

"Public hearings are a farce in this town,” Cam Kos, a neighbour who's been among the most vocal opponents to the proposal, told reporters following Monday evening's council meeting.

Except for Coun. Betty Irwin, who made the lone vote against second and third readings of the rezoning, council completely ignored the concerns of the entire neighbourhood, Kos said. His sentiments were echoed by about a half-dozen other neighbourhood residents at the meeting.

Kos said other councillors didn't seem to care that residents didn't want the site zoned for multi-family development.

Tuton applied to rezone the site from Residential Single Detached to Multiple Family earlier this year to redevelop the property.

The application was met with significant opposition from nearby residents. They suggested it could create traffic woes, raise crime rates and change the character of the neighbourhood, made up largely of single-family or duplex homes.

Before continuing with the rezoning, council opted to have city staff organize a meeting between residents and Tuton to discuss the issue.

A development agreement was then passed to address some of the concerns.

It includes conditions that any housing project have no more than six units, have a maximum height of 9.15 metres (30 feet) and that there be a six-metre buffer on the east side of the property to retain trees.

Numerous residents continued to argue against the rezoning even after the agreement was passed. They argued it did little to address their concerns, and that a six-plex would still change the neighbourhood's flavour.

Many told the city Tuton could achieve the same number of units he's looking for by subdividing the property into three and building duplexes or single-family homes with suites.

That would ensure the character of the neighbourhood wasn't being changed, while also allowing for redevelopment of the site, they argued.

There's a huge difference between three duplexes and a six-plex, area resident Ron Swizdaryk told reporters, pointing to features like the amount of sunlight hitting the properties.

Pointing to other examples of townhouses in Whitehorse, he said a six-plex just creates a "big block”.

The neighbours acknowledged there is a need for more rental options in the city. However, they argued, the proposed $1,200 to $1,500 Tuton is proposing to charge each month for the units does not constitute affordable housing, which is most needed in the city.

"It won't be helping,” Kos told council last night.

It marked the final opportunity to address council members on the rezoning before their vote.

Kos said he not only represents the views of nearby residents, but, based on the most recent residents' survey, the opinions of most Whitehorse residents.

Most responders who participated in the survey are between 18 and 59, and live in Porter Creek.

A total of 80 per cent of those favoured the development of single-family lots, ranking thicker density as their last favoured approach to land development, aside from "other”.

Kos urged council members to listen to the majority of city residents and block the rezoning.

"We're not opposing development ... we're opposing the rezoning,” he said.

While Coun. Dave Stockdale commended Kos for returning week after week in sharing his opinions on the proposal, he then launched into a lengthy explanation on where his vote might go.

Deputy Mayor Ranj Pillai continually reminded him that council is not to enter a debate with delegates.

Stockdale, however, went on, noting where a "reasonable request” comes forward, council has to consider it, and there are times when people aren't going to be happy with council decisions.

Stockdale also spoke when the vote came forward, pointing out that compromises were made in the development agreement.

Having visited the property, he said, there's a need for redevelopment, and a six-plex will not be a major imposition to the neighbourhood.

"That piece of property has to have something done with it,” Coun. Florence Roberts agreed after stating the development may not even end up as a six-plex, depending on Tuton's plans.

She pointed out that with living suites or duplexes, the site could have ended up with up to eight units.

Restrictions have been put in place on the size, Roberts said, and there is a provision to have the trees maintained with the access to the property to be discussed down the road, she said.

Pillai, meanwhile, looked back to the 2009 municipal election, when he was elected on a platform that included trying to ensure there are more rental properties available.

Pillai also took issue with the "fear-mongering” that came from some opponents citing high crime rates that could occur with expanded populations.

Coun. Doug Graham said he sympathizes with area residents and believes there needs to be more single-family lots available. However, he pointed to the city's zoning and Official Community Plan (OCP), which call for higher-density developments.

By passing the most recent OCP, he said, council has mapped out a path where it has no choice but to support this rezoning.

For Irwin though, such decisions have to come with consultation.

"I don't think we can ignore the protests of residents,” she said, adding she has not heard one resident speak in favour of the rezoning.

Though Tuton had a number of other options put forward about what he could do with the property, he opted not to go ahead with any of them, stating profit is his motive, she said.

Tuton doesn't live there, so the development won't impact his day-to-day living environment as it will neighbouring residents, Irwin told her fellow councillors.

Irwin also commented that she can understand the emotional distress some residents have felt. As landowners, people want to protect their property "at all costs.”

After the meeting, residents continued to note their dismay to councillors, many lingering after the meeting to reiterate their points to council.

Tuton, meanwhile, said today he was "obviously happy” with the decision.

"Now we can move ahead,” he said.

That will mean tearing down the vacant house and garage on the treed property this winter and finding an architect to come up with a design that fits within the development agreement, Tuton said.

Mayor Bev Buckway and Coun. Dave Austin were away from last night's meeting.