On March 1, council unanimously rejected the Evergreen Subdivision Area Structure Plan over fears the proposed road access would negatively affect nearby residents.

“My concern is with that road,” said Councillor Dean Ward. “I keep going back to Section 56 of the Land Use Bylaw: A development will not unduly interfere with the amenities of the neighbourhood or materially interfere with or affect the use or enjoyment or value of neighbouring properties. I won’t vote for this area structure plan with that road in.”

A handful of residents who own property near the proposed subdivision are dead set against having the road near their land. Such a road could cause flooding, they argued.

An engineer hired by the landowners suggested a better way to access the subdivision would be extending 108th Street in Blairmore.

Engineers hired by Trevor Hay, Evergreen Heights developer, said extending 108th Street would result in grades of over 15 per cent, which could make the road impassable. It would also affect wetlands.

Citing his own engineers, Hay said the proposed road access would not in fact cause flooding on his neighbour’s land. He said the proposed access was the only viable option and asked council for clarification.

“We have thoroughly studied this and not one, not two, not three, but four engineers have said the exactly same thing,” he said. “Is there anything that you still want me to consider on that road allowance? Because we have studied it to death and there’s no way to use it.”

“There is only one option,” he said. Am I willing to look at other options? Absolutely. We just wish there were other options.”

The Area Structure Plan proposes the creation of a 72 acre grouped country residential subdivision with 16 lots ranging in size from about 3.1 to 7.3 acres in the southwest Blairmore area.

The matter will be back before council in May.

Because they felt there are too many place names with the word “evergreen” in them, council also passed a motion requiring Hay to change the subdivision’s name from Evergreen Heights to an alternative that would not confuse first responders.