A commercial area in Heritage Park is being rezoned to allow for residential development.
Sarnia council approved the request to facilitate 44 new multiple-attached residential dwelling units on the two blocks of land north of Confederation Line and east and west of Ronald Bloore Drive.
Councillor Terry Burrell said he had difficulty flipping property, which acts as a buffer between residents and the light-industrial area to the south.
"If we put houses right at Confed then anytime anybody south of Confed tries to do anything in a commercial type area with their property, they're going to come up with big resistance," said Burrell. "That was witnessed by the Procor programs."
In January, council approved a rezoning application in principle to permit the expansion of the existing Procor Ltd. rail car maintenance operation at 725 Procor Drive, but the company withdrew its application in February, and said it would be exploring options to facilitate the proposed expansion within the limits of the existing zone.
Agent Rob Panzer told council the residential development will include measures to mitigate noise.
"The design of this development will be a condominium form of development, with units fronting onto interior driveways and backing onto Confederation Line, with a noise wall that will be provided," said Panzer.
Councillor Mike Stark said the project would help address the need for affordable housing.
Councillor Brian White said it is time to build some homes.
"These multi-residential attached units are something that's desperately missing for our community and I'm more than happy to support this," White said. "It's time to move forward and get building."
Staff had recommended the applications be refused because they were not consistent with the provincial policy statement and didn't conform with the official plan.