Despite the ten letters sent to development services and more than 20 objecting neighbours showing up to the special council meeting, a rezone application was granted last night to Stan Kinkead to develop his property at 4407 Sparks St.
At that meeting council had told him they needed more specific details about the planned development.
The revised building plan presented last night shows three possible residences containing a total of seven units.
And council heard of Kinkead’s plans to tap a creek running through the property to power the units with a geothermal generator.
Both plans created a backlash from neighbours because of the perceived social and environmental impacts.
The votes went four to two, with David Pernarowski and Bruce Bidgood opposed, and the rest of council in favour of granting the zoning amendment. Councillor Brian Downie was not in attendance.
“We have to be careful not to let NIMBYism guide our decision,” councillor Stacey Tyers said during the debate.
She reasoned that the development plan addressed several key issues including affordable rental housing and low carbon emissions from the geothermal componant.
“We do keep trying to densify and eliminate some of our footprint,” Tyers said. She also went on to say that, “there is no expectation of large rural properties in an R1 zone.”
While neighbour Dan Mussell and councillor Bruce Bidgood said they thought Kinkead’s plan was still too vague, director of development services David Block assured council and audience guests that concerns over the details of the development could be addressed at the next stage, when Kinkead applies for a development permit.
