Chatham-Kent council is being asked to approve the terms of a settlement regarding a controversial high-rise in Chatham.
The Ontario Land Tribunal has ruled the 87 unit apartment building can be built on vacant land at 50 Indian Creek Road West near Lacroix Street in Chatham, but with eight storeys instead of nine after the applicant appealed a no-decision by council in January 2025 and still didn't have a decision 90 days later.
At that time, residents told council that they weren't in favour of the proposed project's height and traffic impacts and council directed administration and the applicant to study the issue further before making a recommendation to council, including updating a traffic impact study now that a nearby school is open.
A report going to council on Monday night stated that the updated traffic impact study ordered by the applicant and done in May 2025 showed no traffic concerns created as a result of the proposed development.
The settlement would also require the applicant to transfer a portion of the land to the municipality at no cost to allow future extensions to the transportation network over the long term.
"If this land is not secured as part of this settlement, Chatham-Kent will likely need to purchase these lands at some point in the future," wrote CK Director of Planning Services Ryan Jacques in his report recommending acceptance of the offer to settle the Ontario Land Tribunal appeal. "While the building height reduction may not be as much as neighbours desired, it does reduce impacts related to height and balances the need for more housing in Chatham-Kent, while reducing the height of this building by 3.21 m (10.5 ft.)."
Furthermore, Chatham-Kent doesn't have a maximum height regulation for large apartment buildings in residential high density zones.
If council rejects the settlement proposal and is unsuccessful at a hearing scheduled for the end of the year, the development would proceed as originally planned with nine storeys and no land transfer.