Fearing more monster homes springing up in Old South, a city councillor wants to know what can be done to ensure new homes fit in with existing neighbourhoods.

Coun. Stephen Turner asked at a council meeting Tuesday for city staff to study the issue.

Turner, whose ward includes Old South, said he’s concerned that large homes being built on Langarth and Garfield streets after old ones were torn down seem “out of character” in the charming enclave.

Property owners face few restrictions when they demolish an old home and build a new one in its place, he said.

“On Langarth, you have a 1,500-square-foot home, and a massive 4,000-square-foot home has gone up right next to it,” Turner said following the meeting.

If a landowner wanted to take down two homes and build a low-rise apartment, it would require site plan approval, adherence to urban design guidelines, council consent and a “whole bunch of eyes on it,” Turner said.

But to tear down one house and build another — called infill development — there are few restrictions, he said.

“Administratively, it is no different than putting on a deck.”

The report by city planning staff will outline what options council has to ensure new homes are in line with the look of an area, said John Fleming, city planning director.

Coun. Michael van Holst was the only councillor to vote against the study, saying councillors have bigger issues to deal with.

“If someone wants to build a dream home, it’s not my business to tell them not to. This is not a priority, it’s a nice ‘to do,’ not a ‘need to do.’ ”

Van Holst said he has driven the neighbourhood and doesn’t have any issues with new development. He said he’s more concerned about panhandlers at intersections in those neighbourhoods.

“It seems like a first world problem if you don’t like Italianate window treatment in a home. The truth is we will never make anyone happy about what is going on in the neighbourhoods.”

Van Holst also does not want staff to spend time on the issue, given their workload.

“My advice is, just decide to like it. It’s the same advice I give when a spouse comes home with a new haircut.”

Several councillors spoke in support of Turner’s motion, saying they want to know what options are available when it comes to infill building.

“This is not just an Old South issue but a citywide issue as well,” said Coun. Paul Hubert, who chairs the planning committee.

“Neighbourhoods with side lots and small houses ripe for tear downs have to have parameters. We should look at a way to address this.”

There are restrictions on height and size within zoning bylaws in a neighbourhood but that may still allow building bigger than what exists, Turner said.

“They are rudimentary tools for determining what is in a neighbourhood,” he said.

“There are really no checks on it. If you go to Langarth, you can see several that are out of scale.”