Plans for a new development in Sarnia's Northgate Plaza are welcomed, if parking and traffic concerns are addressed first.
That was the consensus following a public meeting to consider official plan and zoning bylaw amendments on Monday.
Farhi Holdings wants to construct two, 23-storey buildings, with a total of four towers that would have commercial/retail space, and a total of nearly 850 dwelling units and over 1,000 parking spaces.
Susan Chamberlain, who owns The Book Keeper, said she and other business owners in the plaza, at Exmouth and East Streets, only recently became aware of the plans.
"I just found out about this project less than a week ago," Chamberlain said. "There are roughly 30 businesses by my count in Northgate Plaza and according to the developers report, they distributed a mere 53 postcards to businesses and residents and, like I say, we haven't talked to anybody that we know that saw any of those postcards."
Chamberlain claimed the project would be short about 300 parking spaces, by city requirements, which would be "devastating" to businesses in the plaza.
"As a business owner in Northgate Plaza -- who has watched that land sit empty for many, many, years... the prospect of two apartment buildings going in there is very exciting. All of those new residents can only be good for our stores and our services. My concerns are the traffic and parking ramifications," she said.
Chamberlain was worried customers would end up avoiding the plaza because of a lack of parking.
Speaking on behalf of Farhi Holdings, planner Mike Davis said his team could explore including additional parking spaces.
"This is not the final step," Davis said. "Obviously the zoning bylaw amendment will establish some minimum thresholds for this. We will continue as we move forward through the site plan review process to determine if there [are] opportunities for additional parking and if that will continue to ensure the project is financially viable."
Davis said the project was an opportunity to marry new housing with the existing Sarnia Transit network.
He said the current bus terminal on the property provides "convenient access to all of the major employment facilities and destinations across the city."
"This is the type and form of transit oriented development that the province and communities across Southwestern Ontario are promoting," said Davis. "This project, including both phases, will represent nearly $400 million dollars of investment, generating between seven and $12 million dollars in development charges, and upwards of over $20 million in ongoing tax revenue once completed."
But, Councillor Anne Marie Gillis argued that under recent changes, council wouldn't be allowed to provide any input into the site plan process, once official plan and zoning bylaw amendments were approved.
Gillis asked council to delay its decision for 60 days, so staff could meet with the developer and respond to concerns.
"I'd like to table this if we can, because there are so many outstanding issues that the public has brought forward and are quite concerned about, considering the fact that it is such a big project in a very confined space," said Gillis.
The tabling motion was passed.
Councillors George Vandenberg and Bill Dennis and Mayor Mike Bradley voted against it.
Councillor Brian White was absent.