Article content continued

Executive committee heard from six angry residents Monday who want council to reconsider an April decision that allowed landowners across the city to subdivide any lot at least 50 feet (15.2 metres) wide into two, even if neighbours protest.

Residents from Aspen Gardens/Westbrook and Parkview/Valleyview said their neighbourhoods don’t need renewal. Dividing a lot could strain the drainage system and destroy the large-lot, single-family character of their neighbourhoods, they said. They asked council to consider the uniqueness of each neighbourhood and respect residents who thought they were buying into a certain kind of neighbourhood and don’t want it to change.

Resident Darren Jacknisky said the Westbrook area of Aspen Gardens is already working on a restrictive covenant, with letters of support from many of the residents.

A restrictive covenant is a legal note on the property title that prevents future owners from subdividing a lot. Neighbourhoods such as Glenora and Quesnell Heights already have similar covenants, which can only be enforced if one neighbour takes another to court.

“I am struggling with your comments this morning,” Coun. Bev Esslinger told those gathered. “You all love your neighbourhoods dearly, but you’re not open for others to enjoy them to the same aspect.”

Mayor Don Iveson said low-flow toilets and population decline due to smaller family size add capacity to the drainage system. He sought to reassure residents these subdivisions are not a first step toward multifamily and higher density development in large-lot neighbourhoods.

Since April, developers have applied to subdivide 64 of the 55,000 lots in Edmonton that are zoned R1 or single-family. Most of those have been in core neighbourhoods such as Westmount. After debate, committee members received a report on the issue for information, but declined to make any changes to the policy.

estolte@edmontonjournal.com

twitter.com/estolte