Residents upset St. John's council approved Kenmount Terrace apartments

St. John's city council has approved a controversial plan to build apartment buildings in the Kenmount Terrace area, but some residents are disappointed in the city's decision.

Councillors voted nine to two on Monday to rezone land on Ladysmith Drive to make way for the project, which will include 229 apartment units.

About 440 people in the area signed a petition opposing the development.

Samantha Mouland lives inher parents house just a few doors down from the development area for the apartments.

Mouland says her parents bought the house because it seemed like a family-friendly area, but added the new apartment building could change that.

"Coming from a small community, we're kind of used to the security in the area with a lot of family homes and you kind of know everyone, so when they bought the house, they felt like this was kind of going to be a family area. With the school going up, that was kind of why everyone bought here," said Mouland.

"And now that it changed, it kind of changes the type of people that will be moving in. It just kind of changes the outlook for people buying houses, I feel."

Some residents also voiced concerns about what the new complex would mean for traffic in the area.

'Haven't listened'

John Fitzgerald, who lives in the area, made his views known at three public meetings.

"All the residents went to three public meetings and repeatedly said, unanimously, that they didn't want that development," he said.

"The betrayal is that we've told council what we want. They work for us, or they are supposed to work for us, and they haven't listened."

A need to evolve

Following the vote, Mayor Dennis O'Keefe reassured residents their concerns will be addressed.

"Not to evolve is to stagnate," he said.

"Kenmount Terrace is in the early stages of development and there are issues, there is no doubt about that, and these issues are being dealt with."

While development has been approved, it may still be several years before the construction for the apartments is completed.