An application for rezoning 2205 Tara Place, Draft Bylaw No. 411, met with disapproval from neighbours and some interesting comments from council.

The applicant is looking to rezone the property from Village Residential (R-1) to Medium Density Multi Family Residential (RM-3) to allow the construction of eight townhomes on the half-acre property. The property was previously the strata’s septic field.

The issues brought up by the neighbours at the Committee of the Whole meeting included concerns for the safety of the children in the area, parking and the perception of secrecy.

Fred Von Ilberg came forward to speak to the rezoning stating he was “very disappointed.” He said people in the neighbourhood were under the impression that the vacant lot would be developed with a duplex or possible two or three buildings, not the nine envisioned by the developer, Hokanson Stirling Construction Corp.

Von Ilberg also questioned why the application was not referenced in the regular council agenda, for October 26, except for a notation to refer to the COW agenda.

“The neighbours are totally oblivious until the hearings happen,” said Von Ilberg.

Mayor Janet Evans said this was also the council’s first look at the application.

She said council will give it first and second reading and then it will go to a Public Hearing where residents will have the opportunity to speak to the rezoning application.

Another concern expressed was that nine units (eight townhomes and one community centre) did not fit into the neighbourhood, which is comprised of single family homes.

Von Ilberg also questioned why the district did not have a Planning Land Use Committee and why a list of proposed rezonings, bylaw amendments, etc. with timelines was not available for public perusal at the municipal hall.

Rhodonite Drive resident Diane Taylor said Rhodonite Drive was an extremely busy road and questioned the “temerity of cramming in nine more townhouses.”

She also said she saw a lack of a long range plan in the development of what is the core of Sooke village.

“You have some very serious conditions to consider,” she said.

Another resident said he saw serious safety issues with parking and he had seen some close calls, referring to the children playing in the area.

“They are not making neighbourhoods like this anymore, we should strive to maintain these,” he said.

Councillor Bev Berger said the number of homes on the property did not fit with the neighbourhood, while Coun. Herb Haldane said, “growth itself is an issue.” He said if the neighbours wanted the area to stay as it is they need to come out en masse.

“Density is what we are doing in the sewered area,” he said.

Haldane also expressed the need for places for construction workers on the hotel to live.

Coun. Maja Tait said she was glad to hear the developer was catering to seniors.

Coun. Sheila Beech said council couldn’t keep backing off (approving development) and it was a nice spot to have townhouses.

“We have to be strong,” she said. “They’re not going to be terribly expensive houses. We need to be tougher than this.”

In speaking to parking issues along Rhodonite Drive and Tara Place Beech said, “people on Rhodonite are parking on the road because their garages are full of crap.”

Coun. Ron Dumont said he was concerned that if density was always increased outside the town centre, that they would never fill the town core.

At the regular council meeting, directly following the COW meeting, council gave first reading to Bylaw. No. 411 but second reading was defeated. The application will be sent back to the developer for further discussion with the planning staff.