Latest news with #rezoning
CTV News
4 days ago
- 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.
CTV News
6 days ago
- Business
- CTV News
Springbank Hill residents raise rezoning concerns over luxury townhome proposal
Springbank Hill residents feel a proposed luxury townhouse development, Augusta Villas, will "irreversibly alter the character of their community." (Supplied/Augusta Villas) Residents of the southwest Calgary community of Springbank Hill are the latest to raise concerns over the city's controversial blanket rezoning policy. A 42-unit luxury villa-style townhouse complex, called Augusta Villas, is proposed for a vacant piece of land at 30 Elveden Dr. S.W. Since the proposed land use change signs went up, residents have been raising concerns over potential traffic congestion, parking, pedestrian safety and the design's lack of compatibility with its surroundings. More than 750 people have signed an online petition and expressed these concerns at a virtual engagement session on May 13. 'Residents are gravely concerned about the cumulative impact of blanket rezoning in Ward 6, which has led to a surge in high-density developments without corresponding infrastructure improvements.' read an email from a resident. 'The project is seen as the tipping point that will irreversibly alter the character of the community.' According to the project's website, the development would include double car garages for all the homes and a pedestrian-oriented pathway. Local residents are speaking to the media Wednesday morning at the site of the potential development to further voice their concerns. The Calgary Planning Commission will review and make recommendations Thursday in council, it will then go to a public hearing. CREB launches campaign The Calgary Real Estate Board (CREB) has launched a campaign to highlight its top housing challenges faced by Calgarians this civic election. CREB's top five issues include, blanket rezoning, planned growth, barriers to homeownership, increases to property tax and digital energy labelling. These policy issues were selected base on CREB's analysis of its exclusive resale housing market data, along with the real-world experience of its realtor members. 'CREB represents almost 8,800 realtors in the city of Calgary and those realtors sit with families, Calgarians, every day. We have a good voice of what the electorate is looking for and its important for us to get our voice out there and get the voice out there for Calgarians,' said Christian Twomey, chair of CREB's government relations standing committee. CREB plans to host a forum for mayoral candidates in September to discuss their approaches to solving these challenges. Calgarians head to the polls on Oct. 20.
CTV News
7 days ago
- Business
- CTV News
‘Litmus test': Council majority backs massive high-rise development on Pack Road despite objections
'This is probably the most significant land use application that this term of council will see,' Coun. Sam Trosow told colleagues on Tuesday. Council considered a controversial planning application by Southside Construction to rezone 6309 Pack Rd. to permit a cluster of high-rise buildings with a maximum height of 16 storeys closest to the roadway, plus 206 single detached lots and 36 townhouses in a subdivision on the southern half of the property. It will add a total of 4,000 units over a 15 to 20 year build-out period. However, the Southwest Area Secondary Plan that guides development in the area prescribes a mix of low and medium density buildings no higher than nine storeys on the property. While neighbours called on council to adhere to the expectations contained in the long-term planning document, several councillors said the current demand for housing has outpaced the secondary plan's intensification targets. Coun. Steve Lehman, who also chairs the Planning and Environment Committee, reminded council of London's commitment to meet its provincial housing target. 'We've been given the target of 47,000 units by 2031. That's the size of Woodstock,' Lehman said. But others councillors suggested achieving the target shouldn't come at the expense of building complete communities that include things like public transit, parks, and public amenities. 'I cannot be beholden to the province on this idea that we are going to live up to this commitment on the numbers of units if it's not what's best for the community,' asserted Coun. Corrine Rahman. Rahman said the fast-growing area is similar to her ward in northwest London where despite significant residential development, municipal services and transit have been slow to keep pace with population growth. She added, 'I do feel like this is a bit of a litmus test.' Municipalities must review and update their Official Plans every five years. Currently, city staff are reviewing some of the building heights prescribed in The London Plan and its associated Secondary Plans. 'Four-thousand units is a lot of units going into this development, along with all the other development applications that are happening [in the area.] We want livable neighborhoods -it's not a numbers game,' explained Coun. Anna Hopkins who represents the area in southwest London. Council voted 10-5 in favour of approving the rezoning application which includes a long list of conditions that the developer has to meet before each of the high rise buildings can receive a building permit.
CBC
22-07-2025
- Business
- CBC
Some Stratford residents 'dreading' changes to town's waterfront
New 'There's some significant concerns about the people who live in and around this area,' says councillor Stratford has some big plans for its waterfront, and on Monday night, people in the town had a chance to have their say. The town is proposing a series of changes to its official plan as it tries to create a more vibrant waterfront and downtown. Marie O'Hanley of Stratford said she's concerned about plans to rezone areas next to long-established homes in that part of town, and is 'dreading' some of the proposed changes. "That's people's backyards, it's vacant land yes, but it's people's backyards. It's not my backyard, so it's not NIMBY," O'Hanley said, referring to the popular acronym for "not-in-my-back-yard" reactions to developments. "But that's just not right that that will become this mixed-used zone. I don't really actually understand what mixed-use zone is, other than it sounds like you can do whatever you want there." 'Not very efficient' As part of its official plan, Stratford is proposing to rezone 28 parcels of land along Stratford and Hopeton roads, near the waterfront. Town officials say the current zoning is "not very efficient for the type of development we would like to see in a key commercial area." They would like to see a "mixed-use neighbourhood" that would include a range of retail, restaurant, and commercial properties on the ground floors with residential units above. The town also wants to "encourage vibrant, pedestrian-focused streetscapes." It's proposing buildings up to six storeys tall in that area, with the top two floors set back so they don't dominate the skyline. Part of the proposed amendments would also ban drive-thrus in that waterfront zone although those already established would be allowed to stay. 'We have to pay attention to these borders' Jeff MacDonald, chair of planning, development and heritage, said there can be tension between different planning zones. He hopes the town can take steps to reduce those tensions. "There's some significant concerns about the people who live in and around this area now," said MacDonald. "We have to pay attention to these borders between zones… and what we're going to really work on is making sure that whatever this ultimately looks like is that border is absolutely respected, and that it's protected, and to make sure that the experience that people have in that neighbouring area is preserved." Part of the reason why Stratford is proceeding with these changes now is because the federal Housing Accelerator Fund requires the town to create about 4,000 new housing units over the next few years. MacDonald said the proposed changes would help meet that target. 'I don't think you're being upfront' Richard Furlong of Stratford said he's concerned about what impact the proposal may have on people's view of the waterfront. "I just think to just put up a whole bunch of houses and block off basically the view for the entire town and to have it only for a few people — I don't know if that's such a great idea," said Furlong. Furlong encouraged town officials to monitor developers to ensure compliance with the rules. "I don't think you're being upfront with us about what you are planning on doing and what you have done to make sure that these things are addressed," he said. Another resident, Dieter Friesen, said he supports increased density but wants public transit and walkability to be priorities. "I think you need to look at parking minimums. If you are going to have good density, and you want to create a walkable downtown, you want it so people don't need a car at all," said Friesen. 'Their concerns are noted' The planning board will meet in early August to discuss the proposed changes and make a recommendation to council. A council vote is expected next month. MacDonald said he rejects the term NIMBY. He said these are residents, and it's important that councillors hear what they have to say. "We have a responsibility to listen to them and we have to make sure that their concerns are noted."
Yahoo
19-07-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Proposed Ghent truck stop a no-go as courts back county commission decision
GHENT, WV (WVNS) – Local courts chose to concur with the decision of county leadership regarding a proposed truck stop location at the Ghent exit on I-77. Several public meetings were held to discuss the proposed project earlier in the year. Commission members said the community was largely opposed to the addition. Raleigh County Commission President, Greg Duckworth told 59News public outcry played a large role in the decision. DUI checkpoint to be held in Raleigh County 'Public input should weigh very heavy on rezoning, responsible development, and those kinds of things,' said Commissioner Duckworth. 'In this case the outcry, it wasn't even close. It was so lopsided the community just didn't want the truck stop there.' Raleigh County Attorney, Bill Roop said Go-Mart would still have the option to use the property commercially. Raleigh County Circuit Courts backed the commission's decision that the truck stop project is not viable under commercial use.'They did say that the property could be used as a commercial use such as a gas station or a convenient store,' said Roop. 'The problem was just the overnight parking of the tractor trailers.' Circuit courts have indicated the commission acted within its legal authority to block the project, though Roop told 59News that Go-Mart still has the opportunity to appeal the decision through the West Virginia Supreme Court should they choose to do so. Commission members have stated they will continue to support the planning and zoning process as a fair and structured method for consideration of land use and development. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Solve the daily Crossword
