Quispamsis councillors want more information about a mixed-use development being proposed along Pettingill Road.
Andrew Dunn is proposing to build 69 to 72 units made up of single-family homes, duplexes, and low-rise apartments.
The plan includes seven to eight single-family homes, 14 to 16 duplex units, and four 12-unit apartment buildings at 160 Pettingill Road.
“We’re trying to fill a need of high-density housing in the town by copying a mixed-use residential plan that’s worked quite well throughout the province,” Dunn said during a public hearing on Tuesday night.
Two residents who live on nearby Heritage Way spoke during the hearing and sought more information about the proposed stormwater management pond on site.
“What is the size of that holding pond that’s going to be right next to my home? Is that going to be always full of water? Is it going to be elevated above my home,” questioned Neil London.
Diane Gregory, who lived next door to London, raised similar concerns about the stormwater management pond shown in the plans.
Dunn was unable to answer some of the questions as he had yet to engage with engineers. He did note that the ponds typically only collect water during large storms.
“I don’t know [the size of the pond], but the engineers would design a pond that fits the requirements of the land and we’d work with the town to make it fit the slope of the land and last over time,” he said.
Questions were also raised about what sort of buffers would be in place between the proposed apartment buildings and the existing homes.
Dunn told council that the buffers would be a combination of berms, trees and shrubs.
“You really would not see these low-rise buildings from any of the neighbours below or beside or even on Pettingill,” he said.
Coun. Emil Olsen said he would like to see more information about the stormwater management pond before considering the third and final reading of the rezoning application.
“There appears to be a lot of concern associated with that. I would imagine that the water would be in a runoff type of design as I haven’t seen too many retention ponds that are uphill from the runoff,” said Olsen.
Coun. Kirk Miller said he would be OK with approving the first reading of the rezoning but would want to see more information before it reaches the third reading.
“Even more defined engineering plans with the topography. The pond, if it’s elevated, is a huge concern for me,” said Miller.
Council passed the first reading of the rezoning and asked the developer to come back with more information on the retention pond and buffers.
