Yellowknife (Sep 24/03) - The city has told a developer to stop work on a 50-unit townhouse complex after nearby residents raised concerns about the project.

City planner Dave Jones staples a development permit approval sign near the site. - Dorothy Westerman/NNSL photo

People living on Ptarmigan Road fear the development will send spring runoff onto their properties and question how the city has handled the Nova Builders project.

"What upsets us most is the entire process," said Brian Wainwright.

Last week, residents complained to city hall when they saw the developer building foundation forms for the townhouses before approval was given.

A stop-work order was issued to the developer Sept. 18.

Later that day, however, city planner Dave Jones posted a notice on the site, giving Nova permission to begin second-phase development on the site.

"Here is the approval, Mr. Wainwright," Jones said as Wainwright was being interviewed by Yellowknifer.

Wainwright expressed dismay and amazement at how quickly this approval process passed through hands at city hall.

"When there is detailed engineering to go through (the process), we were informed it takes one to two weeks, normally. What is not normal about this?" he questioned.

Jones said Nova has provided all the information the city requested.

Resident wants answers

Not satisfied that the process has received enough scrutiny, the residents appealed the Sept. 18 permit, stopping the whole process. The matter will now have to go to a development appeal hearing.

The residents are not convinced the developer's plans to handle site drainage were adequate.

"Next spring there's going to be a flood," Wainwright said. Andrew Fox, the resident whose land adjoins the development, said the area used to be a marshy lake area before it was filled over.

"The topography of the land has changed drastically. A number of residents have signed a letter to the city with concerns," Fox said.

The city issued another stop work order Tuesday when it was discovered work was still going on at the site.

When contacted in his Edmonton office, Nova's Mike Mrdjenovich said the residents are just trying to stall the development.

"The residents don't want anything built there. There is not one concern there," Mrdjenovich said.

"I don't think they can stop me but they are stalling me. They are narrow-minded," he continued.

The project is a "nice one and a good-looking one" and he said the site was littered and not maintained before he started work.

He said although he has already sold seven units and has materials on order, his hands are tied as he now races against the weather.