 |
|
|
|
|
  
|
Development appeal hearing for Shaganappy project Simon Whitehouse Northern News Services Published Wednesday, January 18, 2012
Residents near the Shaganappy and Ptarmigan apartments were issued notices Jan. 10 that inviting them to attend the hearing or make presentations. Three public meetings were held last spring and summer on the Northern Properties Real Estate (NPR) Limited Partnership development application, which was resubmitted in December and then approved. Mayor Gord Van Tighem said the development meets the city's zoning and density requirements. However, under the Planning Act there is a two-week window after a development permit is approved for affected people to make an intervention or request that the approval be reconsidered. If that happens, the issue is turned over to the "quasi-judicial" development appeal board, Van Tighem said. "It will hear arguments on all sides, including from the developer, the development officer and anyone else who has concerns on it," said Van Tighem. "From what the board hears, they will either support the approval of the development agreement or suggest changes or deny the development agreement altogether." Many residents last summer objected to the project because it would increase the number of people living in the area. "It will cause a lot of headaches for the people on 54th Street because the traffic will be unbelievable," said Rycon Drive resident Kay Da Corte Tuesday. "It is pretty busy now, but it will be much worse." Da Corte says she had been living in the area since the early 1970s and expects increased density will devalue property along her street. "There might be a chance to stop it, but there is big money there and they say you can't fight city hall," she said. Others living in the area seem less hopeful. "It is pretty well a done deal," said Bob Gamble. "The city asked to have consultation and started and never really finished. "So far I haven't decided to put anything in (to the public hearing), but I don't think there is any point really." Clark Marcino, who lives on Rycon, says he did not get a chance to attend public hearings last summer but may attend this time. "I am against the current proposal because it is the same as it was last summer," he said. "I don't believe they have done a good enough job keeping up the current properties there and if they are going to be looking at a new property in the same manner, I don't think that is going to be a good thing for the neighbourhood." Marcino agrees with Da Corte that there is already high enough density and is concerned about additional traffic in the area.
|
