A bylaw to rezone property many residents thought was intended for an elementary school was formally adopted on June 11.
Instead of a school, neighbours will look out on approximately 100 townhouses.
The 13.86 acre property is in the 19800 block of 70 Avenue, in the Routley neighbourhood of Willoughby.
The issue had been highly contentious, not only for residents, but also for Township council and the Langley Board of Education.
The land was owned by the Township and school district. The municipality will retain a portion of land adjacent to 200 Street, on which it will eventually develop a park.
Residents adamantly opposed the land swap, many telling council that they moved to the neighbourhood with the expectation that an elementary school would be built there. The site is four blocks from Langley Meadows Elementary.
The Focus application was filed by several companies collectively known as the Bains Group.
The school district will now relinquish ownership of the school site, and instead acquiring a piece of property on 84 Avenue in the Yorkson neighbourhood for another school.
There was no discussion when council considered final adoption of the bylaw, which passed with only Councillors Kim Richter and David Davis voting against the bylaw.