Bear Mountain Holdings plan to remove nine holes of golf to make way for low-density housing is meeting some resistance from residents, but the company maintains itB次元官网网址檚 the only viable choice for the Langford community.

In November 2012 executives of the resort and residential community unveiled plans to turn 36-holes of golf to 27 to accommodate a new development plan moving away from a 2006 apartment-heavy design.

In response, more than 300 residents of Bear Mountain have come together to form the Bear Mountain Community Association, which is opposed to the plan and spearheading a campaign to stop a rezoning application with the City of Langford.

The association objects to the removal of the golf holes, as well as the lowidensity housing-focused plan now  put forward.

B次元官网网址淲e absolutely object to the proposal that Bear Mountain Land Holdings just put forth,B次元官网网址� said Rene茅 Olson, spokesperson for the association. B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檙e concerned about the hundreds of millions of dollars that we have as homeowners up here, that itB次元官网网址檚 going to be a negative effect on our asset.B次元官网网址�

The associationB次元官网网址檚 unofficial leader, real estate agent Brad MacLaren, said he believes poor sales in the community is a matter of inadequate marketing, rather than a bad plan. He disagrees that a high-density focused development canB次元官网网址檛 succeed.

B次元官网网址淭hatB次元官网网址檚 a load of hogwash,B次元官网网址� MacLaren said. B次元官网网址淭heyB次元官网网址檙e just not looking at the bigger picture. What we need is a developer, someone who is going to be here long term, who is going to see the value of this community and build it accordingly.B次元官网网址�

The group has gone door-to-door petitioning residents to drum up support.

Through letter writing, petitioning and participation in the eventual public hearing, the association hopes to convince Langford council to reject the rezoning application.

For their part, executives of Bear Mountain maintain that the new plan is the best way forward. CEO Gary Cowan said it is stalled development that is putting property values at risk and that the new design is the right move.

B次元官网网址淲e feel very strongly that this sets up Bear Mountain for long-term success and will lift the cloud that is hovering over Bear Mountain and has been since 2010,B次元官网网址� Cowan said.

With sales stalled, half-finished infrastructure and a commercial village lacking tenants, executives believe a change in approach is the answer.

The plan still incorporates apartments, but in more low-rise buildings, and with more of an emphasis on low density, single family dwellings.

New public spaces would be introduced, including an eight-kilometre looped trail, to make up for the loss of the golf holes. About half the land freed up from taking out the golf holes would be used for park areas. CitySpaces Consulting Ltd. planner Gwyn Symmons expressed that this will add value to the community, which he said is currently lacking in public green space.

B次元官网网址淣obody likes to take out golf courses B次元官网网址� ItB次元官网网址檚 not something we do lightly. But itB次元官网网址檚 not a black and white issue here, thereB次元官网网址檚 actually some good reasons why weB次元官网网址檙e doing this,B次元官网网址� Symmons said. B次元官网网址淚 think thereB次元官网网址檚 anxiety about change B次元官网网址� what weB次元官网网址檙e trying to communicate is we think this change will be really positive for the residents up here.B次元官网网址�

B次元官网网址淲e really believe that this proposed plan does a number of good things for Bear Mountain,B次元官网网址� Cowan said. B次元官网网址淚t aligns the development with the market trends weB次元官网网址檙e faced with today, itB次元官网网址檚 going to enhance the lifestyle elements of the whole community and itB次元官网网址檚 going to provide certainty for everyone going forward, including existing homeowners.B次元官网网址�

Langford councillor and planning and zoning committee chair Denise Blackwell said the city has received about 100 letters in opposition to the rezoning application. The matter is currently in staffB次元官网网址檚 hands, as they assess the application and work on a report that will later go to committee. There is no word yet on when that will happen.

Blackwell said she has no opinion on the matter yet, but if the plan involves losing green space she said council will likely reject the rezoning.