A local developer says he will look at ways of alleviating nearby residents' concerns over the six-plex he is proposing for 1204 Centennial St. in Porter Creek.

"They had some good points,” Craig Tuton said in an interview Wednesday, following a Tuesday evening meeting with area residents to discuss the proposal.

Tuton has applied to have the property, which currently has an older single-family house on it, rezoned to allow for the multi-family development that would include six townhouses on the property.

City council deferred the rezoning after numerous residents spoke out against the proposed development, and a request was made for Tuton to meet with neighbours first.

"I think it was a productive meeting,” the developer said Wednesday of the session held at the Canada Games Centre with city planners on hand.

Tuton noted there were some concerns that can be dealt with in the design and layout of the project when that work is done – things like the parking area and garbage pick-up site being too close to the next-door neighbours.

"We can look at ways to mitigate (those issues),” he said.

Many of the same issues brought forward to council – traffic, the size and scale of the development, upkeep of the property and others – were brought up by the approximatley 15 people at Tuesday night's meeting, though much of the discussion focused on how to address those issues, said city planner Kinden Kosick.

"Traffic was certainly one large concern,” said Coun. Betty Irwin, who attended the session.

That led to discussions on having the access to the site come from Centennial Street rather than 12th Avenue to keep the additional vehicles to the main road.

Both Kosick and Irwin noted there was also much discussion around a development agreement for the project, which could include restrictions addressing a number of issues broached by the residents.

Many in the area have argued a six-plex would not fit in with the single-family homes that make up most of the neighbourhood.

Traffic, parking, a drop in property values and higher crime rates have also come up as issues.

As Tuton has pointed out though, the property is large enough that if he kept the current zoning for single-detached houses, but subdivided it into three, it could accomodate up to three duplexes, which would also create six homes.

Tuton has presented his proposal as a six-plex townhouse-style development that would feature two parking spaces per unit.

Further details are limited, however, as Tuton wants to wait for the city to decide on the zoning before he pays an architect to come up with designs.

Irwin said that while some residents are concerned there are no concrete plans, she can appreciate that Tuton doesn't want to pay for designs that won't be able to proceed if the zoning isn't changed.

After Tuesday's meeting, Irwin is still considering how she'll vote this Monday evening when the rezoning comes back to cuncil.

"There are a lot of issues to be weighed,” she said.

On the one hand, there is a clear need for new housing and infill development within the city.

"It's quite a large lot, which would accomodate a multi-family residence,” she said.

Irwin then pointed out that, on the other hand, area residents have brought forward some valid concerns which need consideration.

Before the issue comes back to council this Monday evening for a vote, Kosick said, planning officials were to write up the minutes of the meeting Wednesday for council members to review before next week.

Diane Nikitiuk, the resident who proposed that council members defer their decision until after Tuesday's meeting, could not be reached for comment on the session either Wednesday nor this morning.