A controversial duplex project was approved by council Monday, weeks after residents came out to voice their displeasure with the proposal.

The duplex, which will be built at 13742 North Bluff Rd., was described by surrounding residents as something that would detract from the feel of the neighbourhood and belonged more in Surrey than White Rock.

There were also concerns about densification in the area, and the additional traffic that may be caused by the duplex.

To that, Coun. Louise Hutchinson said White Rock will eventually begin to densify and that surrounding lots are likely to be subdivided in the future anyway, long after the current council.

"Land is at a premium in White Rock and gone are the days when we can afford 60-foot lots," she said. "When there is development coming we have to support changes to the density, but I'm not sure North Bluff is a good place."

White Rock Mayor Wayne Baldwin said densifying the strip on North Bluff was always something council was going to be considering, and while multi-family houses were out of the question, duplexes were not.

"My inclination is that there is some angst in the neighbourhood about having a duplex, but it wouldn't look a great deal different from a family house and I don't think one or two more cars would have a significant impact on traffic on North Bluff," he said.

During the public hearing on the issue, held Oct. 1, nearby resident Richard Andres said the approval would open the door to more negative proposals for the area.

Council voted five to one in favour of rezoning the property for the duplex, with Coun. Helen Fathers opposed.

"I'm not going to be supporting this," said Fathers. "A lot of people that lived in this area (came out) and we heard very clearly from the people that came forward, their displeasure."

cpoon@thenownewspaper.com

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