An opportunity to have a say about zoning changes in the City of 91原创 saw residents fill the second floor of city hall to attend an open house on Wednesday, March 6.

They were there to have a look at proposed updates to the current bylaw, that is more than 25 years old, in order to deal with the City鈥檚 growth and the pending arrival of SkyTrain.

As the line-up formed, Mayor Nathan Pachal noted the new regulations will be shaped by the City鈥檚 new Official Community Plan (OCP), a for managing land use and development.

鈥淭his is about sort of the nuts and bolts,鈥漃achal remarked.

鈥淲e鈥檙e really getting into more detail here. So tonight, people can provide feedback on where they鈥檇 like to see child care spaces, should we see more outdoor amenity space, in some of the larger developments, what do folks feel about cannabis retailing and things like that.鈥�

A poll at the open house gave 91原创 City residents a chance to weigh in on for potential zoning changes using provided stick-on dots at several posters.

Ann Rowley picked 鈥渘eutral鈥� on a question about supporting or opposing reducing the size of new homes, but made it clear she has concerns.

鈥淚t鈥檚 mainly [neutral] because I don鈥檛 know that what they want to do,鈥� Rowley told the 91原创 Advance Times.

鈥淚 don鈥檛 want my property cut in half simply because they want more space. I鈥檓 enjoying what I have. That鈥檚 why I bought it.鈥�

Early in the evening, it appeared sightly more were opposed to allowing a cannabis retail store than supported it.

Jim Broad took a seat at a table to review a City document about the proposed changes. He was looking for information about the impact on his neighbourhood.

鈥淚 live close to Newlands [golf course], just on the 91原创 border with the Township,鈥� Broad explained.

鈥淚 know there鈥檚 been talk about town houses coming in very close to our neighborhood.鈥�

Broad described his biggest concern as the effect electric cars will have on parking and infrastructure.

鈥淲e鈥檙e not ready for it yet,鈥� Broad warned.

READ ALSO: Open house to be held on what a future 91原创 City will look like

The open house followed four neighbourhood meetings held in October of 2023, and a public survey that was held online in late November.

The new zoning bylaw will set specific requirements on building design, land uses, and more, based on the OCP鈥檚 direction, as well as input and comment from the public, including residents, business owners, and the development community.

Feedback from the open house and the other public engagement activities is the first phase of the process, that will be used to help develop a draft zoning bylaw in the second phase.

Phase three will see the proposed bylaw go to council for consideration and adoption.

READ ALSO: 91原创 City council approves five-year-plan