Witless Bay residents asked to choose plan for residential lots

Residents of Witless Bay have a big decision to make about new residential developments in their community.

The town is holding a a plebiscite Thursday to choose between two plans for the size of future residential lots in the community.

One proposal would require future residential lots to be at least one acre, while an alternate plan offers the option of half-acre lots.

Mayor Sebastien Despres is all for the larger lots to protect the groundwater on which the community depends for its wells.

"Witless Bay is the fourth largest town in the entire province without public water," he said.

"So we have to do everything we can to protect that important resource and to protect our resident's wells."

Resident feels process is rushed

The original date for the plebiscite was Tuesday, but the government rescheduled it for Thursday.

Residents were given two weeks notice of the vote, but that's not enough time for residents like Jessie Burke, who still has many questions about the plans.

"Why do it in just a few days? It's really too important a decision to rush into," she told CBC News on Monday.

"Take your time. Give the residents a month, six weeks — give them time."