Plenty of scoffs could be heard in council chambers on Monday as city council approved planning amendments for a controversial affordable housing development on Cathcart Boulevard.
Official plan and zoning by-law amendments for a four-storey, 94-unit apartment building at the former St. Bartholomew's Church passed in an 8-1 vote.
City/County Councillor Bill Dennis voted against the recommendation, citing resident concerns about safety and community impact.
"Given the other situations we have in Sarnia regarding county housing projects and neighbourhood trauma, these concerns are very, very real to some neighbours," Dennis said. "They deserve more than vague assurances that everything will be fine, without clear answers, without clear eligibility criteria, without a neighbourhood protection plan, without endorsable accountability measures if problems arise."
During the meeting, County of Lambton Housing Manager Melisa Johnson reiterated the county's decision in March.
"Council did declare the use of that property as RGI, rent-geared-to-income housing, and not supportive housing. The intended use is to operate just like Jubilee Gardens is currently," Johnson said.
Councillor Terry Burrell said he supported the motion, taking the county at its word.
"We definitely need housing in our community for people with lower incomes," Burrell said. "There are many people who are paying $20,000 a year for their apartments."
However, longtime area resident Debbie Willis was not convinced by the county's statement.
During her delegation to city council, Willis accused the county of not giving area residents enough notice to attend February's public meetings.
"Cathcart neighbourhood property owners are deeply concerned with the lack of county transparency and how they want to transform our low-density neighbourhood to a high-density cluster build," Willis said.
She presented a petition with 211 signatures of neighbouring residents who are opposed to the proposed development.
"The issue isn't affordable housing. We have affordable housing there. The issue is high density -- number one -- is the big issue. Number two, there's nothing stopping the county from changing the designation," Willis said to local media outside of council chambers.
Councillor Anne Marie Gillis noted during the meeting that it was a planning matter and not approving the recommendation could have opened the door for a larger build to take place.
"One of the problems I do have is I think even this is an overbuild on this site," Gillis said, who also noted concerns over the site's setback and lack of sidewalks on the north side of Cathcart Boulevard.
"I think the city has to take some ownership with its infrastructure when this goes in, or if it goes in," Gillis continued. "You have to have some place for people to walk, you have to have somewhere for people to ride their bikes, you have to have a decent transit system that will accommodate the number of people you have coming in here."
B.M. Ross & Associates Ltd. Planning Consultant Jordan Fohkens said the nine metre setback is much larger than what the city currently requires.
"Throughout this whole review, we were very cognoscent of the fact that we want to increase separation from the neighbours, more specifically the neighbours to the north," Fohkens said.
A site plan and detailed drawings will go back to the City of Sarnia to review at a later date, Fohkens said. Parking details (79 in total) will be subject to the site plan process. Parking will be shared with Jubilee Gardens, an existing 42-unit, two-storey apartment building on the Cathcart property (700-718 Cathcart Boulevard).
