A residential project in the old Datwiler Mobile Home Park in Murrayville has finally been approved by council.

In November, 2007, residents who live in a single-family neighbourhood adjacent to the Datwiler park were dismayed at a proposed condo and senior’s housing project by Century Group, at 22301 Fraser Highway.

Established residents, who had already expressed concern on several occasions about parking in the area, were alarmed.

It was not just parking — density, the height of the buildings, the shading of their yards by tall condos immediately adjacent their homes, and the loss of privacy — were among the area residents’ concerns.

Council asked planning staff to have another look at the project, and make some recommendations, but was not happy with proposals that came back to council in January, 2008.

Century Group went back to the drawing board.

The Century Group’s original proposal included 139 residential units in three, three-to-four-storey buildings, with another 155 units for seniors’ housing.

The new proposal included eight single-family lots, to replace Building 4, which had been located in the north-east portion of the 5.53-acre site.

The internal road and surface parking was also realigned, and Building 3 was reduced by one unit, to 47 condo units. Building 2, in the south-west corner of the site was increased by 16 units, but the overall apartment reduction without Building 4 was 25 units.

Council authorized a second public hearing.

On Monday, Mayor Rick Green and Councillor Steve Ferguson spoke against adoption of the rezoning bylaw, and the development permit, both saying that the Township had not done a good job with the project.

But Councillor Jordan Bateman, a resident of the area, disagreed.

“I can tell you a vast majority of the single family residents are in favour of this.

“They appreciate the buffer (of new single-family homes),” he said, adding that the new development is “better than the trailer park.”

And he said if the Township wanted to see “an impact on a single-family neighbourhood” council could have put a commercial development on the site.

Other councillors agreed with Bateman, and the rezoning bylaw and the develpment permit were both approved in a 7-2 vote.