It’s a part of Fort McMurray that has remained a peaceful place for many residents for several years, but development is changing the space, and its change that’s being met with criticism from some.

Plans are on the table to build a marina, high rise condos, 7,000 seat arena as part of a recreation complex, an art centre and green space near the Snye are on the table – but those plans have prompted a group against the development to form.

The group, called “Save our Snye”, claims there was a lack of consultation with residents, saying residents were only handed one idea by the city.

“The development down there should not benefit privatization, or the people with the deeper pockets that can afford to buy the housing that they’re planning on putting on the Snye,” Gene Ouellette, with Save our Snye, said in a phone interview with CTV Edmonton.

Ouellette said the group would like to see other options.

However, Mayor Melissa Blake said the city consulted with residents – with data coming from iPad and online polls – she called the input important to the process.

“Whether their ideas actually get expressed and adopted into the plan or they form some kind of council opinion as we go through the decision making process, which is separate than the evolution,” Blake said.

Ron Taylor’s resignation, expenses released

Meanwhile, the man in charge of the downtown development plan, Ron Taylor, has stepped down from his position.

At the same time, his expenses were released – showing he was paid $745,000, charged $176,227 in flights and more than $130,000 spent on hotels, car rentals and taxis and entertainment – all totaling $1,057,465, for 298 days of work between 2011 and 2013.

Taylor’s expenses for 2014 had not yet been invoiced, CTV News has learned.

One Fort McMurray councillor was concerned about those numbers.

“They’re outrageous, I indicated to members of council that this is ridiculous, there appears to be no accountability,” Councillor Guy Boutilier said.

An external audit of the expenses will be conducted to determine what happened.

As for the design for the waterfront, that still needs to be approved by city council – Mayor Blake told CTV News she wants to have construction finished by August, 2015 when the city hosts the Alberta Summer Games.

With files from Veronica Jubinville