District of Sooke council, on Nov. 13, held a public hearing for Bylaw 529 and 530. Bylaw 529 was to remove a parcel of land from a proposed development while Bylaw 500 was for a phase development agreement for 7000 Melrick Place.
At issue among the residents who came to the public hearing was the intention to open up the end of Brailsford Road for a through road into the proposed subdivision.
“The road was always planned to go through,” said Councillor Herb Haldane. “The more arteries we put through town the better. We have a responsibility to do what has to be done.”
Not everyone agreed with Haldane.
Allan Barr, a resident on Brailsford, said he had collected a petition with over 100 signatures opposing the through road on Brailsford.
“Grant Road is the artery, please direct traffic to that road,” said Barr.
Residents were concerned about the safety of their children with any increased traffic on the narrow road, but they were not against development.
Council made a recommendation to allow the designing and building of the Brailsford extension but it would have traffic calming devices, signage and would be closed to traffic except for emergency vehicles.
Council gave third reading to both bylaws.