Housing plan in green space under attack by residents
Lack of consultation slammed in Larkspur and Meadows
Larkspur and Meadows area residents voiced concerns Thursday evening about plans to develop housing in a large neighbourhood green space.
About 100 people gathered at Velma E. Baker School, many of them urging city officials to hold off plans to build housing in the green space beside the school through the First Place Home Ownership Program. Tensions rose as many residents criticized city representative Walter Trocenko for the building plan that some said was pushed on residents with a lack of consultation.
Resident Perry Steffler said he doesn’t believe the city can decide what to do with the land because it belongs to homeowners.
“This land is ours, and we need to start a legal fight against the school board and city because it’s ours,” he said. “We’re getting snowballed here.”
Some residents walked out when a presentation about the First Place Program was to begin.
Established in 2006 and formerly known as the First Time Home Buyer Program, the initiative transforms undeveloped land into housing options for first-time buyers by offering deferred land payments.
City councillor Amarjeet Sohi voiced support for the project at the meeting, saying the community’s overall green space is not being taken away with the addition of a school and more housing. The development of the area would not devalue existing properties, he added.
“This is a vision crafted by the entire council,” he said, noting council has been advised from many residents and building professionals on the development.
Having affordable housing should be a priority for the community’s future, he said.
“It is about having that young lady stay in the community in which she has grown up.”
One resident of 12 years, who wished to be identified only as Dale G., said his main concern was the loss of one of the primary green spaces in the community, and said he believed property values would drop if that space was infilled.
Jennifer Holland and Dan Litke just bought a home in the Larkspur area this past winter. The couple said they have no problem with the first-time buyers program, but were unaware of the development plans when they bought their home.
They want to see plans for a new school moved to another location, but echoed statements from many residents at the meeting about the city’s consultation with the community.
“We had absolutely no say in what was going to happen,” Dan said.