On Tuesday, October 11, the proposed development on the 4.3 acre land parcel in GlenEagles was defeated in council chambers.

Council unanimously voted to defeat the land use change which would have allowed the land to be re-designated from UR (Urban Reserve) to R-3 (multi-unit dwellings).

Mayor Ivan Brooker says he is not surprised council chose to defeat the development.

"So many years after fact the community is entirely built out, with access issues, the lack of sidewalks in the community, the higher density being required than what is throughout the entire existing GlenEagles... it just didn't make sense that it was an appropriate change to make."

GlenEagles Estates Condominium Association, Director, Phillip Lalonde, says residents of GlenEagles were happy and relieved with the final decision.

"I think the entire GlenEagles community was pleased with the result that council considered the application was poorly thought out."

Lalonde says concerns accessing the proposed development off a narrow 7.5 metre road with no sidewalks, safety concerns for children with increased traffic volume, as well as the dense, out of character development all added to council's decision to defeat the application.

Will GlenEagles residents see a new plan brought fourth? Perhaps, but Mayor Brooker has his reservations.

"All land owners are entitled to make changes to a plan, and try to bring it back with something that is more appropriate, but I am not sure, it is going to have its challenges for sure."

Lalonde says he is surprised that such a dense proposal was initiated in the first place.

"We were always surprised that the obvious kind of development was not proposed by the owners of the property which would be a very limited development say consisting of 2,3,4, 5 units/high end estate homes; it is ideal for that kind of development. If they were only proposing 4 units up there, I don't think there would be that much concern because the volume of traffic is substantially less, and the impact on the community is far less."

While the town is in no position to purchase the property to maintain the urban reserve, Brooker found out an interesting fact.

"What we can do, which I have investigated already in regards to another parcel, is we can issue tax donation receipts if that is of interest to an individual."

The land parcel for now, will remain as is.

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Risks Outweigh Benefits Say Residents of GlenEagles