The City of St. John’s has voted against changing the zoning to allow higher-density housing on vacant land in Groves Road, a rural type neighbourhood off Mount Scio Road.
Some 200 people in the area signed a petition asking council not to go that route as it would change the character of their streets. All who voted, except Councillor Sandy Hickman, chose to keep the status quo.
Councillor Hickman saw infill housing as the preferred route.
“Otherwise we get urban sprawl, and increased services and taxation,” said Co. Hickman. “This will also, with the installation of hydrants, provide firefighting services to people in the lower area, something which I feel is pretty important.”
