A group of Charlottetown residents has sent a 700-signature petition to Ottawa asking government to leave the Upton Farm property on the western edge of the city as green space.
Canada Lands Company already has city council's approval to begin the first phase of development for the 105-hectare property. They're building 200 to 400 residential units on 24 hectares on the south side of the Trans-Canada Highway.
"I would like it left open for generations to come and enjoy as an extended area where people could hike, bike and enjoy forests in a greater area than Victoria Park, which the city has outgrown that and needs a larger area for recreation," said Kirsten Connor, who spearheaded the petition drive.
Connor has also approached provincial Environment Minister Jamie Ballem, asking the government to get involved. The province operates a tree nursery in Upton on the north side of the Trans-Canada.
"There have been arguments along what Kirsten has said," Ballem said.
"This makes sense and should we do it? How do we do it? Are Canada Lands going to say to us, 'Yeah, that's good, province — you can take it for $25 million.' We don't know those things."
Ballem said the idea of reserving the land for green space was "appealing."
Connor's group may still have some hope. City council will be holding public meetings on phase two of the Upton Farm development in 2007.
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