Proposed development and land use change has Mount Pleasant residents concerned

An attendee at the open house on potential land use changes in Mount Pleasant

Close to 100 residents were in attendance at the Mount Pleasant Community Hall Tuesday night for an open house regarding a potential land use change.

A proposal has been made to change the classification of a lot from an RC2 to an RCG, a move that would allow standalone single dwellings,side-by-side dwellings, or rowhouse residences consisting of three or four units.

“It would allow them to build four units on a property that today would only allow two, effectively doubling the density of the property they’re going to develop.” said Chris Best, a member of the board of directors of the Mount Pleasant Community Association.

Residents of the northwest neighbourhood believe the population has been growing organically with the tearing down of old houses to be replaced with new ones.

“We don’t want to see this type of density just dropped in the middle of the community,” said Best.

Residents who have been living in the area for over a decade are very concerned that the issue could grow out of control as the area has already begun to feel congested and overpopulated.

“It feels like all these developments are pushing the families out of the community,” said Natalia Gorobinski, a Mount Pleasant resident. “There’s families with kids everywhere and with more traffic it’s a huge safety concern.”

Mount Pleasant residents will have an opportunity to voice their concerns at a public hearingat city hall in early September.

Druh Farrell, the councillor for Ward 7, did not attend Tuesday’s open house.