A resident’s petition with 294 signatures will be submitted to the Byron Shire Council this Thursday calling for the proposed land lease community development to be scrapped.

The over 55s LLC is set for construction on a piece of farmland in Ewingsdale, 8km north of Byron Bay’s CBD, next to the Byron Central Hospital.

In 2016, the development proposed by the then-owners of the two parcels (15.8 ha in total) was opposed by residents and Council.

Project leader Paul Brumpton told Echo Netdaily the proposal for the over 55s community respects “the heritage and conservation values of the site” and all residences would be single-level and screened from surrounding roads.

He said the company would restore a historically significant building on the site and retain all environmentally significant trees.

Shannon Burt, Director Sustainable Environment and Economy said under the BILS all proposed developments near the hospital, with the LLC wanting to build next door, would be assessed based on their function to the hospital.

The Byron Shire Council is set to address the petition during their March 4 meeting.