Latest news with #BrianChillman
CTV News
01-08-2025
- Business
- CTV News
First a golf course, now an event centre: Neighbours battling Windsor developer again
Hearn Hunting and Fishing Lodge seen in Harrow. (Source: Hearn Hunting and Fishing Lodge) First it was a golf course, now it's an event centre. Neighbours are now fighting a Windsor developer… Again. Hearn Hunting and Fishing Lodge wants a temporary zoning amendment to allow for a commercial event centre. It would be located at 6655 Concession six in Essex County: The exact same location as a proposed golf course in the early 2000s, known as Marshfield Woods. Back then, the Hearn Group started to develop a golf course on their property. The Essex Region Conservation Authority (ERCA), environmentalists, and neighbours all fought back and won, although it took nearly four years and rulings from the Ontario Municipal Board and Ontario Court of Justice. 'That's not really relevant to the decision the town has to make (now),' Hearn lawyer Brian Chillman told CTV News Friday in a phone interview. He, and Steven Hearn, told CTV News their proposal today is to rezone 0.33 hectares out of the 26.3 hectares currently zoned agricultural. Hearn explained it's only for the concrete footing of their large white tent, 'about a quarter of the size of a soccer field'. It's also on the opposite side of the property designated as a wetland. Their proposal is to be rezoned for six months, from May to October, to host up to 10 'boutique' events with a maximum guest list of 200 people, even though their tent has a capacity for 380 people. Chillman said they have been working 'with the town' on a resolution to their commercial business opportunity for more than a year. 'This is not a case of the Hearn's developing something and asking for permission later,' Chillman said. When they started hosting events – Chillman didn't say when – the Hearns 'believed' it qualified as an 'on farm diversified use', as spelled out by the Province of Ontario's Ministry of Agriculture, Food, and Rural Affairs. Neighbours complained about noise and the Hearns were fined by the town, even though at the time, according to Chillman, Essex didn't have a noise bylaw. Now that the town is working towards a noise bylaw, Hearn Lodge is working with the town to come into compliance. Chillman said each of the reports commissioned by Hearn on planning, noise and biology were 'peer reviewed' by Essex officials who in turn, accepted them without complaint. During a meeting on July 21, a town presentation indicated administration approved of the zoning amendment and no outside agency – including ERCA – disputed the proposal. It's only neighbours – and some of the former Friends of Marshfield Woods – who oppose the zoning amendment. Hearn and Chillman want to work with the town and the neighbours to craft a zoning amendment that works for everyone. Essex Town Council will consider the proposal at their next meeting on Aug. 11.
CTV News
25-07-2025
- Business
- CTV News
‘They don't want large scale weddings': Essex residents fighting wedding venue
Hearn Hunting and Fishing Lodge is located at 6655 Concession Six near Harrow, Ont. (Michelle Maluske/CTV News Windsor) Hearn Hunting and Fishing Lodge wants to continue hosting weddings on their Concession Six property. The home on the property is an authorized short-term rental, but the owners have started hosting weddings, which is currently not permitted. To comply with municipal bylaws, they must rezone a portion of property currently zoned for agricultural purposes. They have asked the town to approve an On Farm Diversified Use (OFDU). It's essentially a temporary by-law amendment to allow Hearn to host up to 10 events – primarily 'boutique weddings' - from May 1 to Oct. 31. 'They are not every weekend,' Hearn lawyer Brian Chillman told Essex Council Monday, saying the company plans to host approximately 10 'boutique weddings' per season. 'They don't want large scale weddings. They have the capability to have more people, but they've limited to 200 [people],' Chillman said. Neighbours aren't buying it. Robin Totten Robin Totten lives less than two kilometers from Hearn Hunting and Fishing Lodge. (Michelle Maluske/CTV News Windsor) 'I woke up one day and had Studio 54 beside me,' one resident said. Another has asked councillors to consider what it would be like '… to have the Essex Fun Fest in your neighborhood every single weekend.' Robin Totten's family has lived less than two kilometers from the property for five decades. Listening to the sounds of a large home, pond, large shed and intricate landscaping being developed was loud enough. 'And it quieted down for a bit,' Totten said. And then 18 months ago, 'They (Hearn) started with this party venue and it's every weekend. We have no choice. It just starts blasting!' explained Totten. Totten said they have 'given up' on calling bylaw enforcement and police. Town staff admit bylaw enforcement has been called out to the property, but on 'every case except one,' the noise level fell below bylaw standards. It's not clear what measures, if any, were placed against the property owners for breaching noise rules. The special meeting on Monday dragged on for more than two hours, forcing the town to defer a decision on the amendment application to their meeting in August. Chillman, however, warned council there was no legal reason to deny their application. 'We believe if we appeal this to the Ontario Land Tribunal (OLT), we have a strong case,' Chillman said. 'Your own professionals supported [the application]. Your own staff supported [the application]. Our professionals supported it (the application). No one agency gave a negative comment about [the application].' Town administration is recommending council approve the application. Mayor Sherry Bondy has now organized a public meeting for Tuesday, Aug. 5, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Harrow Portuguese Club. CTV News reached out to Chillman and Hearn Hunting and Fishing Lodge, but the calls were not returned as of this article's publication time.
