SUMMERSIDE, P.E.I. — It was what some residents in the Spruce Drive area might call a win. Some city councillors and pair of housing developers, however, would disagree.
On Tuesday, Summerside city council voted against the proposed rezoning of 29 Spruce Dr. following weeks of unrest among residents in the area.
The decision pitted councillors against each other, with councillors Bruce MacDougall, Justin Doiron, Carrie Adams and Brian McFeely voting against the motion and councillors Barb Ramsay, Norma McColeman, Cory Snow and Greg Campbell supporting the resolution.
Deadlocked, it was Mayor Basil Stewart who had the final say.
"I'm not going to support the motion. I'm not going to go against the planning board, they supported it getting it to the floor," Stewart said. "But I'm not going to force something on the community when the vast majority of the members of the community didn't want it."
Reacting to the mayor's decision, members of the public who were present clapped in support. But Stewart wasn't finished.
"This is not easy for anybody to vote here tonight. I was like everybody else and put a lot of thought into it."
The application to rezone the property was brought forward by Abbott and Langille Inc. earlier this year. They purchased the property from Clifford, Vanessa and Melissa MacQuaid. While under the previous owners, a compromise was made with residents that reduced the number of row-houses set to be built at the site.
Trevor Abbott, one part of the building duo, said the decision took him and his partner by surprise.
"It caught us off guard. We think it's unfortunate that it got turned down. We had big plans for it. We wanted it to be senior-friendly, accessible housing in a quiet area of town."
The partners were looking to build a total of 42 units over R2 and R3 zones in the property. There would have been 30 units in R3 and 12 (six duplex units) in R2, said Abbott.
"The original plan would have allowed the owners to build up to 16 units in the R3, and we were planning for eight duplex units, making it another 16 units."
This brings the total to 32 units.
"I understand public outcry, we have 20 years of experience each of us in this industry. But if you don't grow with change, you're going to be left behind."
Councillors MacDougall and Ramsay seemed to have the strongest opinions on either side of the spectrum about the development.
"I was representing my residents. I've also gone through the process previously where we worked with the previous owner and the residents and were satisfied with the decision to rezone as it was.
"Most times when something is being sold, the applicable changes would be made ahead of the sale. But my main reason was to support the residents I represent."
During the council meeting, Ramsay said she received a call from someone looking for access to housing. She said she could do nothing more than give the woman advice, wish her luck, and send her on her way.
"I feel very disappointed. I feel like the residents of Summerside are crying for places to live and making contact with councillors. I wouldn't want to be looking for a place to live and be counting on our city council to support that."
She said the city is discouraging developers from coming into the municipality by saying 'no'.
"My biggest disappointment is because I support the whole city of Summerside, not just 10 people that would come in and sit in (the meeting). I have respect for them, but I have to think of the City of Summerside as a whole. I ran for council to represent the City of Summerside as a whole, not just my ward. I will do the work for my ward, but I won't disappoint the city for the sake of just one ward."
To that point, MacDougall said it isn't a case of only representing his ward on decisions. Through his tenure, he's supported several projects in the city.
"I was voted in to represent the residents of Ward 1 - they're the ones that have put me here the last 30 years. I'm in no way against development in this city... But when it comes to concerns raised to me by a number of people, there's been a lot more than 10 over the last three or four nights. So if I'm being... I don't know what the word is... for representing my residents, then so be it."
For now, Abbott and his partner say their plans are up in the air.
"We haven't put a whole lot of thought into where to go from here. Whether it be we sell the property, or since it was originally zoned R5, which is for mobile homes, use that."
He said they wanted the new housing units to be quality builds.
"Lessening the number of units has really tied our hands. It's not going to look or be the way we wanted it to be and be that quality."
He said it was important for them to show they were interested in investing in Summerside - that included making it all into one functioning lot.
"It would be hard to sell, we wanted to show council we wanted to be here."
He said during the process, the builders refrained from reaching out to the council to ensure due process was done.
"But at the same time, we were never contacted over questions they may have had."
He also said he tried to employ companies and workers from the Summerside area for the project - including a concept artist and construction companies.
"I just know the vision we had is now not feasible."
For the full video detailing the concept of the development, click here.
