While some people are excited to move into a proposed new subdivision, their potential neighbours have concerns.
City council heard Monday about plans to turn 18 hectares of land east of the Fort William Country Club’s 12th fairway into a 25-lot subdivision.
Alan Jones, speaking on behalf of applicant Ryan Jones, said that every study, from environmental impact to traffic, has been done on the development. There are also about 20 conditions in the draft approval plan recommended by city administration that should ease concerns that neighbours have had since an original plan for the land was presented more than a decade ago.
There will also be two large pieces of land surrounding a tributary of Mosquito creek that will be gifted to the city as parkland to address concerns residents had about environment.
“To keep this land out of private ownership and under the control of public domain,” Jones said.
Trees would be planted on lots next to the golf course to try and stop wayward golf balls from doing any damage Jones added. And drainage would be done so that storm water could flow to the golf course as much as possible, something the Fort William Country Club is in favour of
Along with the country club, council heard from eight other supporters of the project. Aaron O’Brien has owned land to the south east of the development since 1973.
While he was reluctant to see change at first, the fact that the developer has agreed to give O’Brien a 15 foot right-of way off of the proposed new road for the subdivision helped him change his mind.
“I support this. This is a good situation for me,” he said.
Other supporters were young families eager to buy the proposed lots, which would range from an acre to two acres large.
“I’m looking forward to moving out there into that area,” said supporter Jeff Leduc.
But three area residents weren’t so optimistic. Doug and Ruth Chapman run the Nor’West Outdoor Centre on Mountain Road and live nearby. Ruth said people of all ages come to the centre for its natural beauty in the city limits, something that most places don’t get to enjoy.
“It certainly will detract from the natural setting,” she said.
Doug had a list of concerns from traffic to the environment. Because the subdivision would be located within a peregrine falcon habitat, he wondered what the noise from construction would mean for the birds.
“Have you ever heard the echo coming off of that mountain?” he said. “There won’t be any falcons anymore.”
Council will make its decision April 23.
