A new planning process for Brookswood is running into resistance from the residents who fought a successful battle against a controversial proposal to increase housing density in the semi-rural neighbourhood.
On Monday night, one week after council decided against proceeding any further with the proposal, Councillor Bob Long convinced a majority of council to approve a second attempt from the lengthy public hearings on the failed plan.
Long, one of the council members who voted down the proposal to boost housing density, said the existing 1987 official community plan for the area still needs to be updated.
鈥淭his is a brand-new process,鈥� Long said, one that would take into account the objections raised by residents, as well as addressing environmental issues such as protection of 鈥渨atercourses, aquifers, trees and conservation areas 鈥︹��
Several residents spoke against the idea of a new planning process at the meeting, some arguing the Township should be focussing on the Willoughby neighbourhood struggle with increased housing density before it considers approving multiple-family housing and smaller lots in Brookswood.
鈥淲hat is the rush?鈥� one resident said.
Mayor Jack Froese said the second attempt at a Brookswood update will not produce a new plan any time soon.
鈥淣ow that we鈥檙e starting over again, this falls to the bottom of the lists,鈥� Froese said.
Councillor Michelle Sparrow noted Township staff have warned council they don鈥檛 have enough resources to develop a new plan.
鈥淭he responsible thing to do is talk about how we鈥檙e going to pay for it,鈥� Sparrow said.
鈥淗ow are we going to make room for it [on the priority list]?鈥�
Councillor Steve Ferguson said there was no intention of reviving the just-defeated plan.
鈥淸That plan is] dead,鈥� Ferguson said.
鈥淲e are starting new.鈥�
Ferguson predicted it would take 鈥測ears and years鈥� to develop another plan.
Councillor Kim Richter said in the new planning process, there should be an understanding that housing density will not be boosted.
鈥淚f we don鈥檛 clearly state that we don鈥檛 want an increase in density, we鈥檒l get an increase in density,鈥� Richter warned.
Richter suggested the Township poll residents to find out if they wanted a new official community plan or to keep the one they already have.
鈥淲e need to ask Brookswood, do you want to start over again?鈥� Richter said.
That suggestion failed to win support from a majority of council.
鈥淚 don鈥檛 think 1987 is the answer,鈥� councillor Sparrow said.
鈥淚 don鈥檛 think it鈥檚 either-or.鈥�
