SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE - Residents in the area surrounding Shaganappy and Ptarmigan apartments have joined together to fight Yellowknife's largest landlord's attempt to further develop the area with more apartments and townhomes.

About 40 residents met on a 54 Street patio, overlooking the existing apartment complex, last week to discuss how to keep their neighbourhood the way they like it ­ as it is. The discussion, which included Mayor Gord Van Tighem, who was invited to take part, was in preparation for the next public consultation being held at Northern United Place June 16.

"Anything you need, ask me," the mayor told the crowd when they wanted to know how to attain the number of emergency calls that are already made from the existing apartments. "And if I can get it, I'll get it."

Residents, who sat on lawn chairs in the evening sun, agreed that the neighbourhood, which sits at the corner of 54 Street and Con Road, doesn't need more development because it is already high density, with a mixture of apartment buildings, townhouses and detached homes.

NPR Limited Partnership, formally Northern Properties REIT, is proposing to put in 58 more units -- a 28-unit apartment building and five six-plexes. The property management company has submitted a development permit application for the project to the city.

"They are, I think, really pushing the envelope trying to put more (residences) on there," said Kay Da Corte, who lives on Rycon Drive.

The group's concerns are that their property values will decrease, there will be an increase in traffic, and the residents on Rycon Drive will lose their privacy if the apartment building is built the way it's being proposed ­ with balconies overlooking the backyards on Rycon Drive.

Loretta Gamble said it's the homeowners on Rycon Drive who will get the worst of the deal.

"They're the ones that I am truly sorry for ­ no privacy, cars will be there all the time and their house won't be worth living in because all the people can see inside," she said.

Herold Andrejek, who lives on 54 Street, said when the Diamond Ridge townhomes were built below Shaganappy and Ptarmigan apartments, he wasn't opposed, nor does he remember anyone else being opposed.

"What they were doing, the planning and all that stuff, it fit into the neighbourhood, there was the space, there was the availability, it was a good development and it's never hindered property," he said.

Select residents in the area were notified of NPR's intention to develop more units through a registered letter inviting them to a public consultation May 3.

At that meeting, held at the Multiplex, residents expressed their concern that it wasn't a proper consultation and requested another be held where all residents in the area are invited to take part.

As requested, NPR has scheduled two meetings June 16, one from noon until 2 p.m. and another beginning at 6 p.m. Both are being held at Northern United Place.

Site and floor plans for the proposed development are available on the NPR website, as was requested by residents at the first meeting.