The Ontario Municipal Board says it will deliver a decision as soon as possible on a proposed settlement between the city and London-based Sifton Properties for a 26-acre development in the area of Modeland Rd. and Michigan Ave. Sifton has agreed to eliminate a high-density 160-unit retirement apartment, increase the number of single family home lots from 64 to 75, build fewer townhouses and reduce the commercial component from 2.4 to 1.99 acres. Area resident Debbie Krukowski, an opponent of the development, says she's still not happy with the proposed commercial space, given the number of vacant buildings in the rest of the city. She's most concerned, however, that the capacity of the storm water system may not be able to handle the development.
"The storm water management pond that was built to service Area 1 and Wiltshire and Twin Lakes was built on information in the 90's that was based on a one-in-100-year storm," says Krukowski. "We now know climate change is affecting all of those things and quite honestly my sense is it's not big enough."
Krukowski says the stormwater pond in Suncor Park north of Lakeshore Rd. was close to overflowing after last Thursday's heavy rains. She's also expressing shock that council reached an agreement with Sifton without consultation from those who voiced concerns.
The developer appealed city council's denial of the project to the OMB. -With files from Dave Dentinger
