City council has voted against a Porter Creek multi-house zoning amendment following weeks of protest from neighbours.

Applicants Robert King and Marilyn Novak had sought to subdivide two properties into four lots, which council agreed to.

In July, King and Novak applied to re-zone two of the lots, at the corner of Holly Street and 14th Avenue East, from RS-Residential Single to RM- Residential Multiple Housing. The current RS designation allows for the construction of duplexes, council heard Tuesday evening.

'I understand the city is looking for more density,' said Coun. Jan Stick.

'This creates more density. The current zoning allows for density. I don't have a problem with duplexes, but looking at the size of the lot, I have a problem with anything higher density.'

Coun. Dave Austin also said he would not support the re-zoning, to which whispered cries of 'Yes!' could be heard from the audience.

Council had heard from residents neighbouring King's and Novak's property earlier in the evening, as well as at previous meetings and through letters.

Margaret Cumming spoke to council, saying she lived two houses down from the proposed development site.

'Multi-residential allows for buildings as high as four stories. Let me repeat: four stories,' she said.

'If you re-zone these lots, you have no idea what will be built and neither do we.'

Coun. Jeanine Myhre echoed this sentiment later in the evening, when explaining why she would not be voting in favour of the re-zoning.

'I don't support multi-residential, but only because we don't know what's going there ... the plans are up in the air.'

Indeed, the re-zoning application did not have to specify what kind of structure would be erected, as that would come at the Development Agreement phase.

Mike Henney asked council to vote against the re-zoning because there was clear opposition from all the neighbours

'It will detract from the flavour of the neighbourhood,' he said.

Most of the houses in the area are single-family dwellings that are mid- to high-priced homes.

Fears had been expressed from residents at previous council meetings that an unsightly, large mutli-family home would be an eyesore, and would cram too many people into too small a living space.

Aside from concerns over neighbourhood esthetics, Coun. Florence Roberts expressed concern over a city-owned utility road behind the property that was being used as an unofficial entryway.

'How would you access the back unit after this subdivision? Can someone get access only through the easement?' she asked.

'Why would the city give away access land when the developer has his own land, but has put too many units in just to maximize profit?' asked Henney.

When it came to the final vote, every councillor and Mayor Bev Buckway voted against the re-zoning application.

They also thanked the attending residents for waiting until the meeting was adjourned before leaving.