The city wants to build a parking lot for a local seniors' group but area neighbours are less excited.
A public hearing scheduled for Monday night on the rezoning of a Ninth Avenue property across the lane from the Elder Citizens' Recreation Association (ECRA) is expected to feature some dissenting voices.
On March 31, city council approved the first two readings of a rezoning bylaw to change 1689 Ninth Ave. from a single residential zone to a minor institutional one for the creation and subsequent paving of a 21-stall parking lot.
It's an item that's been on ECRA's wish list for years. Currently, their 10th Avenue location offers its more than 800 members no more than 60 parking spaces, leaving most to park on neighbouring streets as far as two blocks away.
Correspondence filed for Monday's hearing include three letters of opposition to the plan.
Ryan and Leah Altizer drew parallels between the proposed parking lot and a recently rejected application to rezone another Crescents property - a 12th Avenue residence - to allow a doctor's office.
"We were shocked to learn that the Ninth Avenue application, which is so similar in nature, is being given such a positive spin in the media and by council," they wrote. "Is a parking lot any more consistent with the Crescents neighbourhood plan than a doctor's office would be?"
Rachel and Philip Peters, whose home is directly adjacent to the property, both wrote about their concerns, with Philip focusing on the issue of their home's encroachment on the subject space. He laid out seven conditions regarding grading and fencing that he said would have to be met in order to gain his approval for the project.
"The bedroom that we have allocated to our two children is located on the west wall of our home which is right next door to your proposed parking lot," Rachel wrote, also expressing dismay over simply moving the problem of having the cars parked on the street to next to her home.
"We respect the seniors and their right to have functional facility; however, we ask that you will please give more thought to the impact this new parking lot will have on our neighbourhood, as far as safety, aesthetics and functionality go," wrote the Altizers.
The public hearing begins at 7 p.m. Monday night in council chambers. If council approves third reading following the hearing, the city will also cover the cost of creating the parking lot, which the seniors' group had estimated at $106,000 if they were to lead the project themselves.
