Approximately 150 residents opposed to a development at Eaglequest Surrey Coyote Creek golf course rallied in front of the course Saturday morning.
Anthem Properties Group seeks to turn a portion of the Coyote Creek course into 325 homes and has submitted a rezoning and development permit application to the City of Surrey. Proposed is a mixed-use development at 7778, 7858 and 7902 152nd Street.
The proposal includes 60 rental apartments, 46 duplexes and 219 townhouses, as well as an amenity building and about 4,000 square feet of retail space.
Ken McBain, who helped organize those rallying with a loudspeaker Saturday, showed Peace Arch News a 116-page book at the rally the includes hundreds of comments from residents opposed to the development.
Asked to summarize why he’s against the proposal, he directed PAN to one of the comments in the book.
The comment said that the proposal does not respect the need to reduce school overcrowding, recognize the “major traffic problems,” adhere to the official community plan, protect the Fleetwood Habitat Corridor, account for additional pressures on medical and emergency services and value the benefits of recreational greenspace for future generations.
“I couldn’t have written that any better myself,” McBain said.
The concerned residents met just west of 15350 Sequoia Dr., then walked to the entrance of the golf course (7778 152 St.) for the brief protest.
Randene Neill with Anthem Properties said the development company has consulted with neighbours and area residents for the past two years, “listening and acting on their suggestion.”
Neill said Anthem has made changes in response to their concerns, which are outlined on a website created by the developer, at coyotecreekdevelopment.ca.
The website states community consultation has resulted in the developer reducing the project’s density by 61 units, expanding the parkland within the proposal, an increased green buffer for neighbours and a reduction in apartment height from five storeys to four.
The project includes five acres of new public parkland to replace golf course land and a network of dedicated public trails.
Sixty rental apartments are proposed and the developer says five per cent of those will be rented at 20 per cent below market value.
The proposal also includes daycare, retail and a “rejuvenated” golf course and clubhouse.
A 77th Avenue extension is proposed to help “relieve local traffic patterns” and improve road safety, according to the website.
As for school overcapacity concerns, the developer’s website notes $13 million is earmarked to add 365 seats in Fleetwood schools.
During the three years of proposed construction, Anthem estimates 100 to 150 full-time construction jobs will be created.
Neill said the proposal is to be introduced to Surrey Council on Jan. 22 and the public hearing is set for Feb. 5.
