Path to go ahead behind homes, despite residents’ objections

KITCHENER — Councillors stuck Monday to a city plan to add a section of community trail that would go within metres of 26 established homes, despite the pleas of residents.

Residents came to council Monday night to convince council not to build the 300 metres of trail behind their homes, but the vote to build the trail went ahead 8-3.

Residents of Brisbane Drive and Brisbane Court in Kitchener came before the city’s community services committee two weeks ago to object to the proposed trail, which runs just beyond the property lines of the homes.

The city wants to put in the trail along Balzer Creek to link two sections of trail to create what staff say is an important east-west connection in the city’s trail network.

Residents argued the city could easily divert the trail onto the street in front of their homes, creating a snow-free connection that would cost less money than building a new trail.

“We have provided a cost-effective alternative that checks all the boxes” of the city’s trails master plan, said Karl Wolf, who spoke Monday on behalf of a number of residents.

The city’s trails master plan allows for diversions onto city streets in established neighbourhoods, Wolf pointed out. “Please accept the alternative route as we proposed to you.”

Residents expressed dismay and disappointment when their suggestion was turned down.

“A multi-use path is a three-season solution. We offered a four-season solution (by having the trail divert onto their street) because we have to keep our sidewalks clean in winter,” Wolf said.

“If those people who voted for the trail lived in our area, they would have voted no,” because they would understand the impact on their backyards, said Ali Elina.

But city staff said the paved trail is needed because it doubles as an access road for crews to maintain pipes and manholes for the city’s storm water system.

Several councillors said earlier they believed having a dead-end paved maintenance road could be more disruptive to homeowners than a trail, since it could invite bush parties and other mischief.

Coun. Yvonne Fernandes, a trail and cycling advocate, said she hoped staff would work closely with residents to make sure the city puts in adequate plants to shield the yards from the trail.

“I hope in the end you won’t find this as disruptive,” Fernandes told residents. “We will work diligently with you to minimize the impacts.”

The city had no plans for a trail through the area when these residents bought their homes in 2006, argued Coun. John Gazzola, who represents the area.

“When we go all of a sudden and change those plans, that’s affecting the largest investment they’ll ever do in their lifetime.”

The trail connection is part of a larger $1-million project to reduce erosion along the creek and protect the storm sewer infrastructure in that area.

Residents stressed that they are in favour of all other aspects of the project, other than the trail behind their homes.