City ignored residents’ petition

Re: “Council gives go-ahead to condo tower amid opposition” (SP, Nov. 21)

It is very disappointing how the application for rezoning was handled by the Saskatoon planning department and city council. Blatant is how both institutions failed citizens of Nutana in regard to this application.

Our petition with 129 signatures was completely ignored by city council before the voting process. There is no other word to describe it than just arrogance. My feeling is that the decision to approve the application for rezoning was made long before the city council public meeting, and behind close doors.

Precedent has been set for rezoning in the oldest residential district of Saskatoon. It shows that residential zoning bylaws are truly arbitrary and may be changed if they are in conflict with a developer’s vision. I am disappointed that the Saskatoon Heritage Society and Nutana Community Association were not willing to raise their voices in a discussion about the rezoning application. It was a perfect opportunity for revisiting the 20-year-old Nutana Planning document, but it was conveniently ignored. I am also disappointed that the Ward 6 councillor decided to ignore the petition from Nutana residents.

It was a task for the planning department of Saskatoon to handle the application for rezoning in an efficient and professional manner. It seems that nobody controls housing projects in Nutana. This was a sentiment reiterated from residents of Nutana while collecting signatures for our petition.

I predict that whole section of University Drive will be changed forever, full of high rises within the next 10 years. Peter Szkup, Saskatoon