Skip to content

LETTERS: Please keep Sidney a quaint community

The question is: Would you like this to happen in your neighbourhood?

Re: Neighbours don’t like housing plan, in the Oct. 21 PNR.

Thank you for your article. It is important that people become aware the property owner at 2248 Ardwell Avenue and 10364 Resthaven Drive is requesting amendments to the OCP (Official Community Plan) and zoning designations which could set a precedent for all other Sidney neighbourhoods.

Under the current zoning, 28 units per hectare are allowed; under the proposed high-density zoning, 40 units per hectare are allowed.

Keeping the current zoning in character with and appropriate to the neighbourhood and all adjacent ones, translates into less density and less houses with more open space, more green space, room for more trees to be replanted and enough parking spaces.

Increasing density translates into parking problems, traffic congestion, pedestrian and traffic safety, years of ongoing construction and little room for few trees to be planted.

The question is: Would you like this to happen in your neighbourhood?

Unfortunately the tree preservation bylaw of 2001 allows all trees to be cut once a development permit has been issued. It clearly needs an overhaul.

Affordability and attainability was mentioned over and over in the development proposal. Please go and have a look at seven houses squeezed into a small lot at 2430 Henry Avenue where once two little houses stood. Lowest price point there is $555,000 with lots much smaller than any proposed at 2248 Ardwell Ave.

Is that kind of money affordable for low income and start-up families? Certainly not.

Not to mention that the property owner does not seem interested in building houses nor overseeing construction — he just wants to sell off as many lots as possible where anybody could do whatever they wanted.

In summary: less houses equals less parking and traffic problems, less pollution, more trees and green space and ultimately means keeping in character with the neighbourhood.

This is not subdivision Langford, this is our quaint Sidney with style and character.

Please keep it that way.

Christine Kollofrath, Sidney