Council turns down proposal for condo project

City council unanimously voted Monday night to turn down the rezoning for a proposal that would have seen an up to 25-unit condominium facility for older residents.

City council unanimously voted Monday night to turn down the rezoning for a proposal that would have seen an up to 25-unit condominium facility for older residents.

“It just does not fit,“ Coun. Dave Stockdale said before voting against the zoning change. It would have seen portions of three properties go from Country Residential 2 (restricted) zoning to Residential Multiple Housing.

The site took in the southern portions of 18 and 22 Wann Rd. where the condos would have been built as well as 1800 Dogwood St., which would have been used for an access to the units.

Last night’s vote came after significant opposition was expressed during a public hearing on the issue.

Along with letters and residents speaking out over the impact on the neighbourhood including traffic, loss of privacy and the potential negative impact on nearby wetlands, the city also received a petition against the development signed by 46 residents.

Outside of a presentation by the proponent of the project, there was just one more letter written in favour of the development.

Proponent Roseanna Goodman, a co-owner of 22 Wann Rd., told council during the hearing the single-storey development wouldn’t have the impact on the neighbourhood many believe it would.

With the units being a single storey, it wasn’t likely to block other residents’ views, or to be built to the maximum unit numbers of 25 or significantly increase traffic in the area.

At last night’s meeting, Coun. Doug Graham was the first to state he’d vote against the rezoning, arguing council has to consider the quality of life for area residents.

“I think there’s no doubt, and we heard it from several (residents) as well, they wouldn’t have any problem with subdividing these lots into single-family residential, but just that high a concentration of homes or condos in that small an area is, to me, inappropriate,“ he said.

While other council members, including Mayor Bev Buckway, voiced their agreement with Graham on the property being more suited to single-family homes, the mayor also suggested the proposal may be ahead of its time.

“I have no doubt in my mind that 20 years from now, it will be subdivided, so I do believe it will be a case of just too soon,“ Buckway said.

She had previously noted that she also appreciates the concept of putting seniors’ housing in an area that is close to shops and other amenities.