A plan to spend $90,000 to decorate an empty traffic roundabout in the Fraser Heights neighbourhood of Surrey has a lot of people scratching their heads.

The city has earmarked the money for a piece of public art to stand atop a concrete base in the residential area.

Officials are defending the plan, pointing out that half the budget will come from a fund developers pay into when building homes in the community.

Planners also believe it'll slow down drivers who pause for a look, much like the famous empty frame sculpture at the Peace Arch border crossing.

The city says while a nearby roundabout is filled out with more inexpensive hedging and a tree, this is a hub just off the freeway and deserves a landmark.

"The city's been committed to delivering public art in the community for over the past 20 years and we thought this location was really unique and a great location to have public art," said Surrey Parks manager Laurie Cavan.

Many people who spoke to CTV News felt there are better ways to spend the cash in a city that is struggling with violent crime and overcrowded schools.

“There’s a lot more priorities that money should be going to as opposed to another statue in a residential neighbourhood,” one area resident said.

The city won't actually choose the winning design until January 2017 and the installation date has not been set.