Article content continued

But residents are concerned about parking on the street and incredulous that an expansion of this scale would need only 20 additional parking spaces.

A petition about the project attracted 155 signatures of residents who are strongly opposed to the plan, said Don Ball, a member of a community group that opposes the expansion.

The expansion would change the character of the neighbourhood, which has always been a quiet, low-density residential area, said Ball. When there are church services, there is an overflow onto Canfield Road of 10 to 20 cars. The proposed community centre would mean noise and traffic hazards every day of the week, he said.

One of the most contentious issues is that six homes could be demolished. The expansion would also mean rezoning the property for institutional use, which would set a precedent for similar projects in the future, said Ball.

“These are five beautiful two-storey homes that are valued in the community,” said Paul Strandberg, who lives about a block from the church. “The church would turn form a small community church into a regional church.

“They’re going to take houses out of our residential community and turn it into a parking lot. It doesn’t make sense.”

St. Mary’s has made no formal application to the city so far, although it held a pre-consultation meeting with city staff last June. The church has until this June to file a formal application.

Some compromises were mentioned at the meeting, including leasing parking spaces from schools and a medical centre nearby when church services are held.