Traffic concerns and crowded schools were top of mind for residents at a recent 91原创 Township public hearing about a proposed 173-unit townhouse development in Willoughby.

Qualico Mitchell Williams plans to develop the 12.2 acre site, which lies just to the east of 212th Street between 80th and 83rd Avenues, not far from an already-developed area of houses and townhouses.

The developer is asking for a change to allow townhouses on a part of the site that was originally zoned for single family homes, and also to reduce the parking requirements, which were set at four stalls per home in the neighbourhood plan, down to 2.8.

Speaking on behalf of Qualico, Jonathan Meads said the company would also be prepared to donate $75,000 to the Township specifically for traffic calming measures in the neighbourhood.

Traffic was definitely on the minds of local residents, as a number of them came to the meeting worried about existing traffic, and how it might get worse if the development goes ahead.

鈥淢yself and a bunch of other parents in the neighbourhood are beyond frustrated with the traffic problems that we鈥檙e experiencing,鈥� said Nicole Shepherd. 鈥淚t鈥檚 not an issue of when it will become a problem, it already is a problem.鈥�

She said that after her children left their bikes at the end of the driveway recently, a driver sped by and ran over them.

Many of the residents specifically pointed to a laneway that runs east-west between 211th and 212th Streets. Because 212th doesn鈥檛 connect through to 80th Avenue, people use the laneway as a shortcut, often driving too fast.

The locals worried that adding well over 100 more people immediately to the east will only make the traffic and parking issues worse.

鈥淭here鈥檚 going to be a problem, and someone鈥檚 going to get hit,鈥� said Rachel Bailey.

Some residents wanted lower density housing.

鈥淥bviously we don鈥檛 want the townhomes at all,鈥� said Amanda Percival, noting the area was originally going to be single family homes in earlier plans.

Several of the speakers mentioned the fact that all the schools in Willoughby are already overcrowded, and this will put more pressure on them.

The issue of parking on local streets, which could be exacerbated, was also brought up.

A petition of 181 signatures against the project was given to the Township.

If approved, the developer would be expected to pay the Township $2.9 million in community amenity contributions (CACs) which would go towards projects such as pools, sports fields, and rec centres.

The Township council is expected to consider the third reading of the rezoning bylaws for the site at its next meeting, which is scheduled to take place on Monday, June 26.

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