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Gander experiencing growing pains

Residents of a quiet neighbourhood at the edge of Gander are worried they'll soon be living next to a construction zone.

Some residents don't want development near their homes

Residents of a quiet neighbourhood at the edge of Gander are worried they'll soon be living next to a construction zone.

The population of the central Newfoundland  town has increased more than 10 per cent in the last five years.

While that's good news for Gander's tax base, it's causing concerns for some rural residents.

Ogilvie Street is as far off the beaten track as you can get and still be within Gander's boundaries.

Houses sit on big lots near a pond.

"What we have out here is a separate little world right within the town boundaries and they can destroy it very, very quickly," said area-resident Ron Walsh.

He’s concerned because the town of Gander is planning to rezone nearby land to make way for development.

"The bottom line is we're looking at growing the town. It's all in the planning. What I'd like to see is bringing in someone who can say, 'here's where the town should go in the next so many years and here's how it should be laid out,' " said Coun. Rob Anstey, chair of the town's public works committee.

The town council is expected to make a decision in the next few weeks.