A large group of Rothesay residents walking home furious from Town Hall after losing their fight to stop a by-law that will see a new apartment building at 11-13 Sierra Avenue.
Their objections were heard at a public meeting for a proposed 15 unit, high quality apartment building with 24 parking spaces. The Public Advisory Committee was not in favour of the project but after council heard from both the public and developer it voted to put it through for a final decision with one Councillor against.
Resident Diane Riley says she feels sold out for taxes and council’s decision has put “a nail in her coffin.” She fears the apartment complex will be too close to their homes, bring too much noise and car headlights will shine in her windows.
Gary Corscadden says the apartments will decrease their property values and create too much traffic on their street that’s 1/2 a kilometer long.
Developer Stephen Perry, from Brunswick Enginering and Consulting, explained to council they would build a barrier fence to block any headlights that would bug residents.
When it comes to worrying about flooding, Perry says they have a storm water management plan and will put in a stormceptor to remove pollutants.
Perry tells CHSJ news it’s unfortunate residents are upset but with other apartments nearby it’s not a detriment to the area. He says the building will also create 70 new jobs.
Mayor Bill Bishop tells CHSJ news when the P-A-C voted the proposal down it was because it didn’t have answers to noise and flooding issues, which was addressed in the meeting. Bishop admits there was deviation to the municipal plan, but says as things develop the town must have the ability to make changes. He says it’s not too much of a deviation, since the area is not zoned as a single family location but as a residential, duplex, multi-housing area.
The final decision will be made at the next Rothesay council meeting on January 14th.
