Plans for a large residential development at Sarnia's former movie theatre site are still in the works.
Sarnia council approved Southside Construction's official plan and rezoning bylaw amendments for the development back in September 2022.
Planner Taylor Whitney, with Zelinka Priamo, asked Sarnia council to extend the development charge demolition credit, for 1450 London Road, by 18 months at its recent meeting.
"Council granted a one year extension of the demolition credits in 2022 when the official plan amendment and zoning bylaw amendment applications relating to the land were being processed," said Whitney. "In 2023, council granted a further one year extension while the site plan approval application was being processed."
Whitney said the credits expired last month.
"This was genuinely an administrative error, a human error. The deadline was missed in the midst of negotiating the development agreement and getting the necessary supporting drawings prepared for site plan and building permits," she said.
Whitney said at the time of the last extension request, it was assumed one year would be sufficient.
"However, the negotiation of certain provisions of the site plan agreement, particularly county issues relating to infrastructure costs, have been more complicated than what was initially anticipated leading to a longer than expected processing timeline," Whitney said.
She said the most recent site plan approval package was submitted to the city in June and the details of the development agreement are currently being finalized with hopes of wrapping up negotiations with the county soon.
"The demolition credits will be applied to the overall development charges, which are payable upon issuance of the building permit. Construction drawings are already in progress and we anticipate that building permits can be applied for, shortly following the finalization of the development agreement," said Whitney.
Sarnia council ended up extending the credits for 24 months.
Southside is planning to build four, six storey, apartment buildings with a mix of one, two and three bedroom units.
The investment will result in 324 units.
The property has been vacant since 2013 and the former Famous Players movie theatre and a restaurant, known as Norm’s Pub and Grill, were demolished in 2017.