Steinbach City Council has decided to pay for part of the Clearspring Greens sidewalk after their initial plan proved to be highly contentious among the area’s residents.

The preliminary plan for a lit asphalt pathway in the region required the 150 homeowners of Clearspring Greens to shoulder the entire $625,000 project cost. That would total approximately $4,280 dollars per home to be paid off over the course of five years. The city, having already purchased the land needed for the job, had contributed 20 percent of the estimated cost and residents were told they would be absorbing the remaining 80 percent.

Read more: Residents Distressed By Clearspring Greens Sidewalk Plan

The proposed sidewalk would run along the tree line near the Fly-In Golf Club.Though this plan was originally deemed “the only option” by Council, it was met with such strong disapproval by residents that they felt it necessary to reassess.

During Wednesday’s regular meeting, Council again discussed the subject. It was there that Councillor Michael Zwaagstra moved to alter the existing plans without discarding the bylaw that was given first and second reading earlier this month.

“The motion was to make an adjustment to the funding for the Clearspring Greens pathway.”

Considering comments that had been made at the public hearing two weeks prior, Zwaagstra suggested that the main resident concern was not the construction or makeup of the path itself, but the amount homeowners were being asked to pay. He moved to draw a sum of $208,000 from the city’s Capital Development Reserve in order to pay for lighting along the path. This would make the split between the city and residents roughly 45-55 rather than 20-80, as was formerly proposed.

“The intent of this was to try and make the cost more affordable for the neighborhood, while still recognizing that the neighborhood still needs to pay a significant portion because it is a local improvement project.”

All of Council but Councillor Jac Siemens voted in favor of Zwaagstra’s motion and so it was passed.

“I do feel this is the right thing to do,” offers Mayor Earl Funk, “there is nothing wrong with changing your mind.”

Siemens says he opposed the new plan for the same reason he opposed its predecessor: “I think the city has the responsibility for the basic infrastructure of pathways. I voted against it on a matter of principle. The compromise is good, it came a long way, but I don’t know if it went far enough.”

Despite Siemens’ reservations, Council will be moving forward.

Meanwhile, 32 objections were filed against the inaugural sidewalk plan which is enough to trigger a Municipal Board Hearing. Scheduling a hearing with the Municipal Board can take months and Council hopes to avoid involving the third party, if possible.

“We’re hoping that a number of the people who have objected will choose to withdraw their objection,” states Zwaagstra. “If there were fewer objections that would increase the likelihood of it going forward more quickly.”

If a board hearing is necessitated, Zwaagstra says there is a good chance the project will be pushed into 2021. Not wanting that, Council is asking residents to consider taking back any previous objections so construction can begin as soon as possible.