The controversial redevelopment of a Surrey golf course is one step closer to reality.
Surrey city council voted Monday to send a proposed project at Fleetwood’s Eaglequest Golf Course to a public hearing.
If approved, a 24-acre portion of the course would be rezoned to allow the development of a four-storey mixed-use building and about 265 townhouse units by Anthem Properties.
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In total, the development would see the creation of about 325 homes and 4,000 sq. ft. of retail space.
The existing 18-hole golf course would be reduced to 12 holes, and a new road, 77th Avenue, would be created.
Some area residents oppose the project. They say it will create too much density and overwhelm the area’s already crowded schools.
“We’re against infrastructure not being in place to look after the people they’re trying to bring in,” said Ken McBain who lives nearby.
However, Anthem’s vice-president Steve Forrest told councillors his company has addressed density concerns.
“We reduced the number of townhomes, three-level townhomes, and brought in more two-level, what we call ‘duplex downsizers.'”
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Councillors Tom Gill and Mike Starchuk voted against going to public hearing, saying many concerns need to be addressed first.
“I see a group of people who have been kind of not included in this whole thing, and I think that’s where we get into a couple of silos,” said Gill.
City council is asking the Surrey school board to make a presentation at the public hearing to find out if there are enough schools to accommodate the influx of students the planned development could create.
The public hearing will take place on Feb. 5.