A public hearing held for the Spiritwood Estates Development and 2150 and 7000 Melrick Place brought out a number of residents who are opposed to the blasting that will occur once building starts.
A bylaw zoning amendment was before council which would see two lots on Melrick Place remain seperate from the Spiritwood development but still connected.
Spiritwood, a phased development, would contain close to 440 units with the Melrick lots adding another 44 units.
The bylaw amendments would not change the density or the use, but the neighbours had questions and concerns.
Concerns expressed included loss of enjoyment and quality of life due to continuous blasting on the building site.
A Brailsford Place resident said, “you can’t drop an atomic bomb every time you want to blast.”
Neighbours stated that their homes were covered in dust and dirt from the blasting and all summer long they had to put up with the noise from blasting.
Linda White, a Melrick Road resident, said her whole house vibrated when the blasting was taking place.
“If this was your home, how would you feel?” she asked council.
Ed Berlando, a resident on Allwood Terrace said the blasting was “irresponsible,” and that water courses had changed throughout the area. “We need to know someone is going to talk to us,” he said. The extraction of gravel in the Spiritwood development also drew comments. Many felt that truck loads of rock would be a safety issue, especially if the trucks used Brailsford Place.
One neighbour was concerned about the loss of trees and wildlife.
Traffic along Grant Road and potentially through Brailsford drew the ire of many who lived in the area.
Ken Greenwood who lives on Maple Park Terrace said, “traffic is going to be crazy.”
It was noted that Grant Road was already failing.
Councillor Herb Haldance suggested some sort of contract which would benefit both parties.
David Clark, who owns the Melrick Road property said of the blasting, “everyone likes it when they are building their own houses.” He said neighbours didn’t want them to do what’s been done in the past. He also stated that there would be four roads coming off the combined subdivision.
Ellen Lewers, said the district should be enhancing the environment not destroying it.
“I hope we can obtain some middle ground,” said Mayor Wendal Milne.
The bylaws will be back before council.