Dozens of Brookswood residents came out Tuesday evening to check out possible plans that could more than double their neighbourhood's population over the next 20 years.

The Township held the first of two open houses this week to allow residents to look at a variety of early options for redevelopment.

Right now, Township planner Lisa Moffatt said there are roughly 13,500 people in the Brookswood-Fernridge area.

The three options displayed Tuesday would see that population grow to between 32,000 and 36,000.

It would mean more density for at least some areas of Brooksood, particularly the southern neighbourhoods of Fernridge, between 32nd and 24th Avenues.

The three main options include:

. "Subdivision" would Extend the suburban style of density south, with lots staying roughly around 10,000 square feet. Population would be about 33,650, and parts of southeast-ern Brookswood and Fernridge would retain lower density.

. "Enhanced Centres" would see pockets of multifamily, including condos and townhouses, at the existing commercial nodes, at 200th Street and 208th Street on 40th Avenue, and at 32nd and 24th Avenues on 200th. This would leave larger areas with low density, with 44 per cent of land with half-acre or larger lots. Population would be about 32,000.

. "Centres and corridors" would use the same style of nodes, but would add higher density along parts of 200th Street heading north-south, and along smaller stretches of 24th and 32nd Avenues. Population would be about 36,000.

The presentation also looked at styles of parks, whether a series of small parks, small parks with two larger parks, or a series of parks connected by a trail network.

Local commercial areas could be contained where they are now, to three intersections, or expanded to up to five nodes. Existing nodes could get larger and add more businesses.

Residents were also asked if they would be in favour of industrial areas being built along 196th Street, directly adjacent to Surrey's Campbell Heights business park.

Those at the meeting had mixed feelings about the planned growth of Brookswood.

"I'm not that crazy about it being densified more," said Gerry Jones, a local resident who likes the roughly quarter acre lots into which much of north Brookswood is divided.

Jones and his neighbours noted there has already been growth in Brookswood and South Langley, with projects like High Point.

"You notice the growth now, even traffic-wise," said Jones.

Maurice Blendheim said he didn't think that Brookswood should be developed in the same way that Willoughby was, with lots of small lots and high density.

Keeping the average lot size at a quarter acre would be better, said Blendheim.

Population growth and density was also on the mind of Andrea Lyon.

"I'm concerned for how we're going to support all these people, and still maintain the quaint cosy that is Brookswood," Lyon said.

North Brookswood resident Deanna Horn was open to some denser housing, maybe along 200th Street, but also compared the situation to Willoughby and wanted generally larger lots.

"I think that's the character of this community," Horn said.

Township councillors, including Steve Ferguson and David Davis, attended to speak to residents.

"The key thing is we want to do it right," said Ferguson.

If the population is allowed to grow, there will definitely have to be more transportation options, Ferguson said.

Like local residents, Davis said density doesn't necessarily have to be that high.

"I don't like to vote for anything that I don't want to live in in 10 years," Davis said.

Brookswood doesn't have to be like Willoughby, Davis said.

"It's not that we have to do anything to it," he said.

The next open house will be Saturday, Jan. 19 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the small gymnasium at Brookswood Secondary, 20902 37A Ave.

mclaxton@langleyadvance.com