Rothesay Town Hall. Image: Staff photo

Concern at a public meeting by Rothesay council over a proposed subdivision in the town’s Hillside neighbourhood.

Phase one of the project, dubbed Rothesay Hills, would see 14 homes built in the area of Dunedin Road and Higginson Avenue.

Stephen Maltby, owner and operator of MR Investments, said it could be “the most comprehensive planned development in the town.”

Maltby said the project aligns with the town’s new Municipal Plan and the Hillside Secondary Plan, adding there are no requests for rezoning or major variances.

“It is exactly as town staff, council and citizens approved in the secondary plan,” Maltby said during Monday night’s meeting.

Phase one requires a new public road connection to Higginson Avenue but no extension of water or sewer services.

Many of those who spoke during Monday’s public meeting expressed concern about the current state of roads in the neighbourhood.

Josh Hennessy said the area may not currently be busy with vehicle traffic, but it is with pedestrian traffic.

“I estimate there were 20 children under the age of nine that use this road daily and I can confirm that, within the last 150 metres of Horton Road, there are at least eight children under the age of seven,” Hennessy told council.

Hennessy is worried an increase in traffic could put pedestrians at risk, especially with a lack of sidewalks in some areas.

Catherine Chiasson referred to a previous project being denied by the planning advisory committee in 2000 due to safety concerns.

While two decades have passed since that decision, Chiasson said nothing has been done to make the roads safer.

“We’re really having a hard time understanding what has changed that now it’s OK to approve development without having the access roads and the collector road that would be much safer,” said Chiasson.

There are plans to extend Wiljac Street and connect it to Fox Farm Road, but not until later phases of the development.

Town staff said traffic volumes generated by phase one should remain well within what is considered acceptable for residential streets.

If the subdivision is approved, Maltby said he expects construction would take about three to four years.

Council did not make any decisions following Monday’s public meeting.