A plan to build a six-storey apartment building in an area of 208 Street where nothing is taller than four storeys is generating some resistance from local residents, who are concerned about the impact on traffic and local schools.
The people who want to build it, meanwhile, say they are going up rather than out in order to limit sprawl and the overall density is well within allowable limits.
Both sides had their say at a public hearing on the Poets Wynd project on Monday night at Township council.
The proposed development would construct two six-storey and two five-storey apartment buildings with 286 units at the southeast corner of 80 Avenue and 208 Street.
The buildings are taller than the current four-storey maximum, so the Yorkson Neighbourhood Plan rules would have to be relaxed by the Township.
The taller buildings would go up in about three years, after 138 townhouses are built on the same site.
Several people spoke against the project Monday night, warning it will increase traffic congestion in the area, worsen parking and funnel more children into already-crowded schools.
“We’re just going to be overcrowding these schools,” said Patrick Taylor.
“We are growing too fast and we don’t have a plan in place.”
Ashish Kapoor said the Township should increase visitor parking requirements for dense housing projects like Poets Wynd.
Kapoor, who has campaigned for more visitor parking in other areas of Yorkson, suggested an increase from the current minimum of 10 per cent, or one visitor spot for every 10 resident spaces, to 15 or 20 per cent.
Project architect Maciej Dembek said going higher will reduce congestion on the ground and the overall density is “way under what’s permitted” for the area under the neighbourhood plan.
A council decision on the project is not expected until September, following the summer break.