WHITBY -- The waterfront may be getting a facelift described as exciting by Port Whitby residents and councillors alike.

A crowd of harbour-area residents came to planning and development committee on Monday night to see the plans for the development. The majority who spoke at the public meeting were happy with the prospect of the new complex.

The development will be right on the water off Brock Street, past Front Street.

Right now the land is zoned for residential, but developer Brookfield Homes is asking for a higher density residential zoning. Before the development can even begin public meetings, rezoning, site plan approval and many other processes have to take place.

The 1992 approval for the land allowed for 110 townhouses and 550 condos in three 15-storey buildings. The new plan includes five condo towers ranging in height from 9-33 storeys, as well as 132 townhouses, indoor parking, a public park and road. This would equal 1,111 condos and 132 townhouses. The developer's estimated timeline to start construction is late 2009.

Residents of the area have been trying to get the Town to come to the table for years, said Davina Jones, leader of the Port Whitby residents group, formed five years ago.

"The area is falling apart," she said. She said they have been asking for a plan that includes trails, parks and public parking for years.

"I think the development is very positive," said Ms. Jones. "It is a lot of density, but I don't think you are going to get away from that anyway."

Area residents have seen condo developments go ahead in the past, but say they aren’t seeing the rewards that come from development charges on the buildings.

"There are a number of problems in the community with road quality and safe sidewalks," said resident Greg Neff. "We want to make sure the development-charge money gets applied to our community."

Area parking was also an issue for residents.

"If this area becomes a destination, are parking issues going to be addressed?" asked resident Rob Williamson. "I've gone down to have an ice cream before and have had to turn around because there was no parking there as it is."

The basic amount of parking according to town bylaws is 1.5 spaces per unit. The developer is asking that the minimum be reduced to 1.25 for this property. Nick Poulos a consultant for the developer said that in other 905-area developments 1.25 spaces per unit has worked.

Mayor Pat Perkins disagreed that this was enough. She asked how many of the 905 developments were on the waterfront and was told that none were.

The mayor said that because the plans include a public park and public road it needs a sufficient parking supply.

Some residents did have concerns but few raised the issue of the increased density of living units at the meeting.

"I am not necessarily against the density of the building itself, but the density of traffic flowing in and out of the area," said Peter Dewsbury after the meeting.

Brock Street is already busy in the morning around the GO Station and Hwy. 401.

Mayor Perkins raised a number of concerns with the proposal including what the length of the shadows would be at peak times. At the end of the meeting the committee asked for a report to be brought to the next committee meeting concerning policy on shadow studies for new developments.

The mayor also said that she didn't want the trail around the development to be a public walkway.

But at least one resident disagreed with her stance.

"As soon as that becomes private they can close it, we have maintained since day one that this should be a place where the public can come," said Ms. Jones.

The report comes to council next week. The process will then move a public meeting and a report back once the planning department has received public and agency comment.